Health Cabinet Secretary Nakhumicha Meets with US Department of State to Strengthen Global Health Security and Diplomacy

Washington D.C., May 22, 2024 - Cabinet Secretary for Health, Nakhumicha S. Wafula, was hosted by the US Department of State for high-level discussions with leaders from Global Health Security and Diplomacy and the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). 

 The meeting focused on advancing global health security and the sustainability of HIV/AIDS programs in the context of Universal Health Coverage (UHC). The discussions emphasized the implementation of UHC and the critical role that Community Health Providers (CHPs) play in protecting communities from diseases, thereby contributing to both national and global health security.  In talks with PEPFAR, the implications of UHC on the long-term sustainability of HIV/AIDS programs were explored. 

 Present at the meeting from the US side were Ambassador Dr. John Nkengasong, US Global AIDS Coordinator; Dr. Hillary Carter, Acting Principal Deputy Coordinator for Health Security and Diplomacy; Dr. Rebecca Bunnell, Acting Principal Deputy Coordinator for PEPFAR; Brian Rettmann, PEPFAR Coordinator for Kenya; and Dr. Desmond Williams, Health Attaché at the US Embassy in Nairobi. 

 The Kenyan delegation included Nakhumicha S. Wafula, EGH, Cabinet Secretary for Health; Dr. Patrick Amoth, Acting Director General for Health; Prof. Elijah Songok, Acting Director General and CEO of KEMRI; Dr. Erick Muok, Principal Research Scientist at KEMRI; Dr. Jean Gitau, Head of the Division of International Health Relations and Global Health Security; and Justus Bundi.