KENYA —Engineer Peter Tum, the Principal Secretary of the State Department of Medical Services in Kenya has met a team from the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) to discuss potential areas of collaboration between UNOPS and the Ministry of Health (MOH) in Kenya.

The discussion, led by Rainer Frauenfeld, Director East & Southern Africa Hub, and Emma Akinyi, Partnership Development Senior Officer, focused on infrastructure development and equipment in the healthcare sector.

During the meeting, the PS highlighted the successful history of collaboration between UNOPS and MOH in the area of immunization campaigns.

The discussion centered around how the potential partnership between UNOPS and MOH could enhance access to quality healthcare services in Kenya and contribute to achieving the country’s healthcare objectives.

The potential partnership between UNOPS and MOH in Kenya, with a particular focus on infrastructure development and equipment, is expected to pave the way for more efficient and effective healthcare services in the country.

According to the PS, this development is a positive step towards improving the health and well-being of Kenyans and strengthening the partnership between UNOPS and MOH.

The meeting was a promising move towards enhancing the healthcare sector in Kenya and improving the quality of life for the people of the country.

The collaboration between UNOPS and MOH has the potential to bring significant positive impact and improvements to the healthcare sector in Kenya.

UNOPS played a critical role in advancing the healthcare infrastructure in Kenya through its partnership with KOICA and the Kajiado County Government to strengthen the medical services of the Kitengela Sub-County Hospital.

On June 10th, 2022, the hospital received ICU equipment and medical supplies worth US$199,000, including 2 ICU beds, 3 cardiac beds, 2 resuscitation machines, 3 ventilators, and 5 patient monitors.

These supplies were particularly critical at the time when Covid-19 infection rates were still on the rise in the country.

The hospital was first constructed by KOICA in 2008 as a health center and later commissioned as a hospital in 2011.

The handover of the critical ICU equipment marks a significant milestone in the hospital’s journey towards providing efficient and effective healthcare services to the people of Kajiado County.

During the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic, the hospital was unable to handle critical care cases due to a lack of ICU beds and equipment.

The partnership between UNOPS and KOICA has proven to be a game-changer in advancing healthcare infrastructure in Kenya, and the handover event is a testament to the positive impact of their partnership.

Through such partnerships, UNOPS continues to play a critical role in enhancing access to quality healthcare services in Kenya, particularly in underserved communities.

Meanwhile, Kenya’s progress in implementing Community Health Services was recognized at the 3rd International CHW Symposium in Liberia, March 2023.

Kenya’s Community Health Workers (CHWs) have made remarkable impact in improving health outcomes in their communities by providing vital health services, increasing health literacy, and promoting healthy behaviors.

The symposium produced the Monrovia Declaration, recognizing the critical role of CHWs in delivering primary health care and achieving universal health coverage, and called for investment in country-led strategies, professionalization of CHWs, and tracking of program progress.

Kenya’s success story is an inspiration for other countries seeking to strengthen their community health systems.

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