Kenya Bolsters Immunisation Drive as Cabinet Secretary (CS) Hon. Aden Duale Flags Off 6.2 Million Vaccine Doses to Counties
Health Cabinet Secretary Hon. Aden Duale today flagged off 3 million doses of BCG (used to prevent tuberculosis) and 3.2 million doses of Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) at Afya House, Nairobi, marking a major boost to Kenya's national immunisation programme.
During the flag-off, the CS called on all county governments—through the Council of Governors (CoG) and their County Executive Committee Members (CECMs) for Health—to prioritise the collection of the vaccines from regional depots and ensure timely distribution to health facilities, particularly in remote and underserved areas.
Hon. Duale commended the government for moving with urgency to facilitate the delivery of the vaccines, describing it as a strong demonstration of Kenya's commitment to safeguarding the health of its children.
He acknowledged immunisation partners, including UNICEF, for their rapid procurement and delivery of the vaccines, and reaffirmed the Ministry's commitment to working closely with all stakeholders to minimise disruptions and sustain the country's immunisation momentum.
Parents and Caregivers across the country are encouraged to visit local health facilities to have their children vaccinated and catch up on any missed doses.
The CS was joined by Principal Secretaries Dr. Ouma Oluga (Medical Services) and Ms. Mary Muthoni (Public Health and Professional Standards), Director General for Health Dr. Patrick Amoth, CoG CEO Ms. Mary Mwiti, and representatives from UNICEF and the World Health Organization.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Kenya.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Zawya
4 hours ago
- Zawya
Kenya: Health Cabinet Secretary Hon. Aden Duale Leads Launch of Health Facility Digitalization
Today in Garissa County, Cabinet Secretary for Health Hon. Aden Duale presided over the launch of Health Facility Digitalization, marking a major milestone in Kenya's journey toward a fully digitized health system. As part of the launch, 1,114 digital devices were delivered to public health facilities across Garissa County to bolster service delivery, improve record-keeping, and enhance accountability. Kenyans can now access their health records from anywhere in the country through the newly established Health Information Exchange (HIE) system—providing a secure, unified platform that captures both patient and provider data to support continuity of care. Hon. Duale emphasized the impact of digitization, noting that it has already led to the closure of 875 non-compliant facilities by the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC), and eliminated over 3 million fraudulent NHIF records. Only licensed and accredited facilities will now be empanelled under the Social Health Authority (SHA). The CS highlighted that through the Comprehensive Integrated Health Information System, the Ministry is digitizing patient records, prescriptions, and facility transactions—transforming the health system from the ground up by improving transparency, reducing fraud, and streamlining service delivery. While addressing the community at the close of the 5-day Free Medical Camp, Hon. Duale also: •Rallied the local population to register under the SHA and embrace Taifa Care, a major health sector reform to strengthen Universal Health Coverage (UHC). •Announced that 367 health workers in Garissa have already been trained on digital systems, with a target of training 1,700 across the countye. •Confirmed that over 74,000 digital devices will be distributed nationally to ensure public facilities are equipped to match the standards of the private sector. He further affirmed that Kenya's Digital Health Superhighway will allow young people and families to register, access health services, and track care directly from their mobile phones—ensuring no one is left behind. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Kenya.
Zawya
5 hours ago
- Zawya
Acute Malnutrition Soars in South Sudan with Millions of Children at Risk following Aid Cuts
A deadly mix of conflict, climate change and poverty have pushed 2.3 million children aged under 5 in South Sudan into life threatening acute malnutrition, with rates soaring just months after foreign governments announced the slashing of funds to the world's poorest countries, Save the Children said. Latest figures from the Integrated Phase Classification (IPC) – the leading global authority on the severity of hunger crises – show that in just over six months, the number of people living in the worst phase of acute hunger (IPC Phase 5) in South Sudan has doubled [1], and the percentage of the population living in crisis levels of acute hunger (IPC Phase 3 and above) has shot up from 47% to 57% - an increase of 21% [2]. A lack of food, insufficient medical supplies in health facilities and major disease outbreaks including cholera, the number of acutely malnourished children under the age of five across South Sudan has increased from 2.1 million to 2.3 million - a 10.5% increase, representing an additional 218,000 malnourished children. Of the 80 counties in which data was collected, 62 – 78% recorded a general deterioration in acute malnutrition, according to the IPC. Children are always the most vulnerable in food crises and, without enough to eat and the right nutritional balance, they are at high risk of becoming acutely malnourished, said Save the Children. Malnutrition can cause stunting, impede mental and physical development, and increase the risk of contracting deadly diseases. All this comes as foreign aid cuts have brought lifesaving programmes across South Sudan – one of the world's most aid-dependent countries – to a standstill. Chris Nyamandi, Save the Children Country Director in South Sudan, said: 'When there is a lack of food, children's bodies become a battleground. The impacts of malnutrition – stunting, impeded mental and physical development, and increased risk of contracting deadly diseases – can be life-shattering. 'These latest figures are a cry to donors: please, see what happens to children when you let humanitarian crises take hold. Please, don't leave the children of South Sudan behind. This is about survival for today – but it is also about hope for tomorrow, to build a better world.' Globally, one in five deaths among children aged under 5 are attributed to severe acute malnutrition, making it one of the top threats to child survival. Community-based programmes combining medical treatment and therapeutic foods, including a fortified peanut paste, have a 90% success rate. Earlier this year, Save the Children reported that at least 110,000 [3] severely acutely malnourished children supported by the aid agency in 10 countries, including South Sudan, could be left without access to life-saving ready-to-use emergency food and nutrition programmes as aid cuts hit supplies in coming months. The charity also reported that at least five children with cholera in South Sudan had died on an arduous journey to seek medical treatment, after aid cuts forced their local health services to close in the middle of a major outbreak of the deadly disease. Save the Children has worked in South Sudan since 1991, when it was part of Sudan. The child rights organisation provides children with access to education, healthcare and nutritional support, and families with food security and livelihoods assistance. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Save the Children.
Zawya
6 hours ago
- Zawya
Principal Secretary (PS) Oluga Chairs Meeting on Urology Centre Project
The Principal Secretary for Medical Services Dr. Ouma Oluga on Friday June 13, 2025 chaired a consultative meeting with the African Development Bank and the National Treasury to review progress on the implementation of the East Africa Centre of Excellence in Urology and Nephrology project. The meeting brought together key stakeholders, including Ms. Nadege Balima from the African Development Bank, Mr. Samuel Nyoike from the National Treasury, and Dr. Ajuck Hossin from the Ministry of Health. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Kenya.
