By Dorothy Musyoka
In a bold step toward inclusive and community-centered healthcare delivery, the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Hon. Aden Duale, today convened a high-level consultative meeting with leaders from the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM) to advance strategic collaboration in achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) for all Kenyans.
Led by SUPKEM Chairperson Hassan Ole Naado, the delegation reaffirmed the Council’s commitment to strengthening its role in public health delivery, particularly in maternal and mental health services across underserved regions.
“SUPKEM, which runs 20 hospitals, 12 health centres, and 32 dispensaries across the country, expressed commitment to expanding collaboration with the Ministry of Health in delivering maternal and mental health services to marginalised communities,” states MOH.
Hon. Duale emphasized the importance of leveraging trusted community institutions in the health sector, calling on SUPKEM to partner with other Muslim professional bodies grounded in trust and integrity to enhance the reach and equity of healthcare services.
The Cabinet Secretary also urged SUPKEM to support the government’s ongoing registration drive for the Social Health Authority (SHA), a key pillar of the Taifa Care model that aims to deliver sustainable, affordable healthcare for all Kenyans.
Further, Hon. Duale briefed the delegation on the Ministry’s strides in digital health governance, including efforts to weed out unqualified medical practitioners and modernize health services. He encouraged SUPKEM to comply with updated accreditation standards and invest in facility upgrades to ensure quality and safety in service delivery.
The meeting was attended by Dr. Patrick Amoth, Director General for Health, and Dr. Salim Hussein, Director of Primary Health Care, who lauded SUPKEM’s contributions and pledged continued support in joint health initiatives.
This strengthened partnership marks a significant milestone in the Ministry’s broader strategy to harness multi-sectoral support in achieving Universal Health Coverage and improving health outcomes for all Kenyans.