The National Aids and Sexually Transmitted Diseases Control Programme (NASCOP) has been lauded for staging a successful HIV Integration Service Delivery Summit that brought together various health stakeholders in Mombasa.
The 4-day conference themed “Reimagining the HIV response in the Health Sector” and organised by NASCOP in collaboration with other relevant partners sought to mark a significant step towards achieving HIV epidemic control in Kenya.
Speaking during the last day of the event,speakers and representatives of national and county governments, local implementing partner organisations, communities and bilateral partners commended Dr Rose Wafula led institution for remaining resilient in overcoming obstacles and delivering exemplary results to combat HIV/AIDS and STIs.
Endebess Member of Parliament and Parliamentary Health Committee Chairman Dr Robert Pukose noted that NASCOP under Dr Wafula has firmly remained committed towards steering the country in fast-tracking integrated monitoring and evaluation strategy of various diseases and HIV programmes which in turn captures information on how well HIV prevention, diagnosis and care or referral for HIV victims will be attained.
He said President William Ruto’s administration through Parliament will continue prioritizing legislations aiming to strengthen measures for the prevention, management and control of HIV and AIDS, to provide for the protection and promotion of public health and for the appropriate treatment, counseling, support and care of persons infected or at risk of HIV and AIDS infection, and for connected purposes.
“I want to applaud the organizers of this event led by Dr Rose Wafula of NASCOP alongside their partners for staging such a colorful show which sets the roadmap for HIV Integration that has remained a missing link in our quest to achieve UHC in line with President Ruto’s BETA policy. As Parliament, we will not stop factoring laws setting the basis for advocacy initiatives towards policy and legislative reforms to ensure a rights based approach is used in service delivery to PLHIV” affirmed Dr Pukose who was the key speaker of the day
His words were echoed by Executive Director of AMPATH Dr Sylvester Kimaiyo who called for collaborative mechanisms towards fostering a comprehensive approach to HIV/AIDS control that complements and enhances the existing health infrastructure.
AMPATH which operates HIV/AIDS care clinics and screening programs in Eldoret at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital [MTRH] provides comprehensive,integrated and sustainable efforts in HIV prevention and care, primary health care, and chronic disease management.
Earlier on in a segment that was moderated by the head of directorate of intergovernmental relations Dr Martin Sirengo,acting Director of Health Financing Dr Elizabeth Wangia affirmed the commitment by the Government to prioritize shifting focus to achieving HIV epidemic control in a strategy that seeks to facilitate implementation of Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
In remarks submitted virtually,Dr Wangia emphasised on various approaches being deployed by the Ministry of Health in achieving both UHC and HIV epidemic control, noting potential areas of friction between disease-specific microtargeting and integrated health systems, and highlighting opportunities for convergence that could enhance both initiatives.
She stressed on the importance of reforms being spearheaded by the Government through Social Health Authority [SHA] as a strategy that would deliver the much needed integration which comes at a time when international financial support for the global HIV/AIDS response is declining.
The integration of HIV services aims to provide comprehensive, convenient, and cost-effective HIV and AIDS programs at all service delivery points, where appropriate.
