Kenya and the United States have renewed commitment to eliminate HIV as a public health threat in Kenya by 2027.

At the same time, the governments have made several agreements to enhance collaboration in cutting-edge research and also a multi-billion-shilling investment in the digital health programme as Kenya prioritises preventive and promotive health in its Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

While the two countries took stock of a partnership spanning 45 years in the health sector, the US government announced a Sh4.1 billion ($31.1 million) investment in Kenya’s digital health infrastructure. 

“This includes expanding the availability of electronic medical records at the clinic and community levels, building renewable solar power plants for hospitals, and linking pregnant women to ambulance services through mobile platforms,” said a statement through the US Embassy in Nairobi.

The HIV Sustainability Roadmap is one of the three agreements the two governments have signed this week as part of a wider plan to address health challenges affecting communities from the two countries.

President William Ruto is leading a large delegation of officials from both the national and county governments. He left the country on Sunday night.

In the HIV Sustainability Roadmap, an agreement between the Ministry of Health and the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the two governments are planning to collaborate in developing a sustainable plan towards elimination of the disease.

“To solidify the partnership between the two countries and ensure the collaboration is addressing the global health needs of tomorrow, the governments signed three agreements,” the statement reads in part.

The governments through the CDC Kenya and the Kenya Medical Research Institute (Kemri) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to support cutting-edge research. This is meant to address the most urgent public health questions, currently, and also facilitate the unveiling of the Applied Science Hub in western Kenya.

President’s Ruto’s tour of the US also witnessed a joint proclamation between CDC and the Government of Kenya, taking stock of the two countries’ 45 years of health partnership. This will also see a joint endeavour to operationalize the Kenya National Public Health Institute to strengthen health security in Kenya, the region, and globally.