President Uhuru Kenyatta with Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO)[Photo/PSCU]
The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Wednesday pledged its full support for the delivery of universal healthcare within the next five years, one of the cogs of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Big Four Action plan.
World Health Organisation Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus pledged his full support to the Big Four plan when he paid a courtesy call on President Kenyatta at State House, Nairobi.
Other pillars of President Kenyatta’s Big Four action plan are increasing access to affordable housing, ensuring food and nutritional security as well as creating jobs for young people by expanding the manufacturing sector.
Dr. Tedros – who is on his first official visit to the country in his capacity as the Director-General of the global health agency – said his organisation is ready to partner with the government to enhance provision of healthcare as well as strengthen the country’s position as a regional hub in health services.
“I am looking forward to partner with you to improve health not only in Kenya but also in the region,” Dr. Tedros said.
He pledged to work with the government to bring health experts to assist in the development of a model that will be efficient and effective in the provision of universal healthcare to Kenyans.
President Kenyatta welcomed the World Health Organisation’s support in delivering his Big Four plan, especially on boosting healthcare delivery for all Kenyans.
The Head of State said he has laid down the plan and is set to implement it to ensure Kenyans have access to improved and affordable healthcare services.
“We have a relatively young population in Kenya and I see no reason why we cannot achieve our health targets,” President Kenyatta said.
He added: “But it is not just about access neither is it about infrastructure or management of the health systems. We are looking at ensuring that it is affordable and efficient, otherwise it will collapse.”
The President emphasised the need to improve primary health, saying he was keen on strengthening the capacity of devolved units in the provision of healthcare.
“I am keen to develop a health model that will be acceptable to the devolved units, a model that will guarantee our people better services,” President Kenyatta said.
President Kenyatta and the World Health Organisation Director-General agreed that the focus should move away from conferences to working with communities in will address health needs.