CS Nakhumicha meets with US Department of State to strengthen global health security

Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha was on Thursday 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 underscored 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.

The US was represented by Ambassador Dr. John Nkengasong, US Global AIDS Coordinator; Dr. Hillary Carter, Acting Principal Deputy Coordinator for Health Security and Diplomacy.

Others included 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, and Head of the Division of International Health Relations and Global Health Security Justus Bundi were also present.