By Laura Nyabang’a
Hon.Aden Duale hosted a delegation from the END Fund, led by Board Chairperson Ms. Tsitsi Masiyiwa, at Afya House, to strengthen partnerships in the fight against Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs).
Hon. Duale commended their long-standing support, particularly through the National School-Based Deworming Programme, which has significantly improved the health of school-aged children and strengthened Kenya’s health systems.
He reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to the WHO Vision 2030, the NTD Roadmap, and the National NTD Master Plan.
“Reaffirming Kenya’s commitment to the WHO Vision 2030, the NTD Roadmap and the National NTD Master Plan, I emphasized the importance of reaching the last mile and ensuring every child can learn, every adult can work and no community is left behind,” stated Hon.Duale.
Hon. Duale was also joined by Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards Ms Mary Muthoni, Director General for Health Dr Patrick Amoth, Ministry’s Director for Public Health and Sanitation Dr. Grace Ikahu and Acting Director NPHI Dr. Maureen Kamene.
NTDs are a group of chronic, disabling infections that primarily affect people living in poverty, caused by a variety of pathogens, NTDs are estimated to affect over 1 billion people globally.
They are most common in developing countries, particularly in Africa, Asia, and the Americas. They include Onchocerciasis (river blindness), Lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis), Schistosomiasis (bilharzia).