Kenyan government allocates US$5 million and 30 acres for WHO’s regional emergency hub

KENYA — The Kenyan government has allocated Ksh.741 million (US$ 5 million) and dedicated 30 acres of Kenyatta University land to the World Health Organization (WHO).

This move is poised to bolster public health preparedness and emergency response across Kenya and the African region,

Moreover, thiis allocation signifies the birth of the WHOAFRO Regional Emergency Operations and Logistics (OSL) Hub, a groundbreaking initiative set to revolutionize the way we handle health crises on the continent.

The journey towards this transformative initiative began with a crucial meeting between Public Health Principal Secretary (PS) Mary Muthoni and WHO officials in Nairobi.

The objective of the meeting was to advance the establishment of the WHO-AFRO Regional Emergency Operations and Logistics Hub, which aims to bridge the critical gaps in responding to public health emergencies.

In an official update by the Ministry of Health (MoH), the newly formed World Health Organization Regional Office of Africa (WHO-AFRO) Regional Emergency Operations and Logistics Hub is set to address the pressing need for rapid and efficient responses to regional health crises.

According to the MoH, the tireless efforts of PS Mary Muthoni and Mr. Adama Thiam, Head of Operations & Logistics Management at WHO-AFRO, were furthered through a productive meeting with Norwegian officials, led by Ambassador for Global Health at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, John-Arne Rottingen.

The timing of this hub’s establishment could not be more pivotal, as the African Region grapples with an escalating number of health emergencies, spanning from disease outbreaks to natural disasters.

These threats loom ominously, casting shadows over the hard-earned progress in health and development made in the region.

Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni expressed her optimism about the hub’s potential to revolutionize emergency response not only in Kenya but also across the entire region.

The MoH disclosed that WHO-AFRO currently manages more than 142 ongoing emergencies, including disease outbreaks and humanitarian crises, firmly establishing itself as the global epicenter for public health challenges.

In a profound statement, MoH emphasized the critical importance of robust health systems, even in the face of emergencies.

Historically, operations, supply chain management, and logistics have often been underfunded, despite constituting over 70% of emergency response efforts.

The WHOAFRO Regional Emergency Operations and Logistics Hub promises to fill this gap by enabling WHO to offer effective and swift support to Kenya and all eastern and southern African nations.

It will maintain stockpiles of medical and logistical supplies while training multi-disciplinary teams of human resources to serve as Africa’s elite emergency experts, ensuring rapid deployment during public health and humanitarian crises across Kenya and the continent as a whole.

“The establishment of this hub in Kenya holds the potential to not only enhance regional coordination but also to become a center of excellence for emergency operations,” remarked MoH.

This hub marks the first of a network of African centers dedicated to bolstering emergency preparedness and response.

Its facilities will encompass a state-of-the-art training center and house a cadre of professionals primed to respond to any medical emergency within the critical first 24 hours.

Additionally, the hub will stockpile essential medical equipment to ensure rapid deployment.

This development follows the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on April 24, 2023, between Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Wafula and WHO Kenya Country Representative Abdourahmane Diallo, following the approval of the Cabinet, with President William Ruto presiding over the Cabinet meeting.

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