Amref Health Africa and Kenya’s Health Ministry Forge Stronger Partnership for Sustainable Healthcare Reform. Photo courtesy
In a move to fast-track Kenya’s healthcare transformation, Amref Health Africa and the Ministry of Health have reaffirmed their strategic partnership to accelerate progress toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC), with a renewed focus on strengthening community-level health systems and addressing critical gaps in underserved regions.
During a high-level meeting held in Nairobi on 8th May,2025, Health Cabinet Secretary Hon. Aden Duale lauded Amref’s pivotal role in shaping Kenya’s health landscape, acknowledging the organisation not only as a homegrown leader but as a global force for sustainable health solutions. “If these solutions are transforming health globally, they must be scaled to benefit our communities here in Kenya,” said Duale, adding that the Ministry is committed to walking the journey alongside Amref to build resilient and people-centred health systems.
Impact on Primary Health and Community Systems
The meeting spotlighted Amref’s alignment with Kenya’s TRANSFORM Strategy (2023–2030), a blueprint prioritising Primary Health Care (PHC), digital innovation, and community-led health interventions. One of the core achievements under this strategy has been the rollout of 225 Primary Care Networks (PCNs) and the digitisation of community health systems, enabling over 100,000 Community Health Promoters (CHPs) to deliver essential health services at the grassroots level.
The Cabinet Secretary emphasised that institutionalising community health, through formalised supervision structures, updated training curricula, and integration into national frameworks like the Social Health Authority (SHA), is critical to addressing workforce disparities, especially in Kenya’s arid and semi-arid regions (ASALs). Amref’s role in training over 5,000 health professionals and 10,000 frontline health workers annually was highlighted as a key contribution toward bridging healthcare gaps in marginalised communities.
Maternal Health Crisis Demands Urgent Response
CS Duale raised concern over persistently high maternal mortality rates, particularly in coastal and northeastern counties, where the burden significantly skews national health indicators. With 355 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, Kenya’s maternal outcomes remain alarmingly high, up to four times worse than neighbouring Tanzania, according to the Ministry.
To reverse this trend, the Ministry called for targeted, data-driven interventions and heightened accountability among health workers. “Maternal health must become a national conversation,” said Duale, urging sustained investment in localised health solutions and the deployment of real-time analytics to drive interventions in high-burden areas.
Digital Innovation Driving UHC
Recognising the potential of technology to transform healthcare access, the Ministry reiterated its commitment to building a national digital health superhighway. Efforts to expand the electronic Community Health Information System (eCHIS), promote virtual learning platforms, and advance telemedicine were hailed as enablers of equitable service delivery, especially in hard-to-reach regions.
Innovative models such as “Uber-style” ambulance services were also cited as examples of how technology and partnerships can enhance emergency response frameworks. The Ministry called for collaborative evaluation and integration of such models into Kenya’s national systems to improve health outcomes at scale.
Boosting County Revenues and Health Financing
Kenya’s push for health financing reform has yielded tangible results through the implementation of the Facility Improvement Fund (FIF) across 43 counties. This initiative has helped increase county Own Source Revenue from USD 46 million to USD 146 million, enabling more counties to finance and sustain local health services.
The Ministry appealed to development partners to support the nationwide rollout of the SHA, accelerate enrollment of informal sector populations, and align primary care delivery models with national policies. Public-private partnerships were also encouraged to strengthen infrastructure and diagnostic services at the community level.
Improving Access to Essential Health Commodities
A cornerstone of Kenya’s health resilience strategy is securing reliable access to essential health commodities. Hon. Duale acknowledged the critical role of the Global Fund and other partners in ensuring the availability of life-saving supplies, from oxygen to malaria treatments.
Communities in remote areas, such as Lamu, are beginning to experience the benefits of these investments. To date, Kenya has installed 22 oxygen plants, set up 3-ton tanks in 14 counties, distributed over 20,000 oxygen cylinders, and equipped 303 health facilities with oxygen piping. Malaria case management at the community level has also been strengthened, particularly in high-burden counties, through increased capacity for diagnosis, treatment, and referrals.
Call for Integrated, Multi-Sectoral Action
Speaking at the meeting, Dr. Githinji Gitahi, Group CEO of Amref Health Africa, reinforced the need for a systems-level redesign to build a resilient health infrastructure. He proposed the establishment of intersectoral committees at county and national levels to coordinate investments across critical sectors such as water, sanitation, climate resilience, education, nutrition, social protection, and agriculture.
“Reducing the burden of preventable diseases requires bold collaboration beyond the health sector,” said Dr. Gitahi. He reaffirmed Amref’s commitment to supporting the Ministry’s vision of zero maternal deaths in high-burden counties through initiatives like the Maternal Big Bet, a multi-partner programme with Safaricom and various county governments. The initiative aims to leverage AI-powered analytics to enable data-driven, high-impact maternal health interventions.
Formalising the Partnership
To strengthen this collaborative approach, CS Duale proposed the creation of a joint working group to identify priority areas, track progress, and publicly report on outcomes through official government platforms.
Dr. Gitahi welcomed the proposal and underscored the need for sustained partnerships to realise long-term gains. “Health is not just a service—it is the bedrock of national development,” he said. “We already have solutions delivering measurable impact. What we need now is the structural commitment to scale them.”
Support from Development Partners
Amref acknowledged the unwavering support from development and philanthropic partners whose investments have helped drive innovation and expand reach. Key supporters include the Global Fund, CDC, Africa CDC, Johnson & Johnson, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, UKAid/FCDO, the END Fund, CIFF, USAID, UNICEF, Gavi, and ELMA Philanthropies, among others.
About Amref Health Africa
Founded in 1957 as the Flying Doctors of East Africa, Amref Health Africa is now the largest Africa-based health and development organisation. Headquartered in Kenya, Amref provides health services and training to more than 10 million people annually across over 30 countries in Africa. The organisation continues to lead in pioneering sustainable, community-driven health solutions that strengthen national health systems and improve lives.
