The HIV Service Delivery Integration Summit opened today in Mombasa County, with a call for enhanced HIV/AIDS response through enhanced collaboration and innovative strategies.

Hosted by the Ministry of Health through NASCOP, the week-long summit aims to align Kenya’s current HIV response with the broader universal health coverage (UHC) agenda. The event focuses on sharing key policy shifts towards integrating HIV service delivery and setting priority investments for its financing.

In her virtual opening remarks, the Cabinet Secretary for Health Susan Nakhumicha highlighted the critical role of integrated healthcare in achieving  HIV epidemic control.

The CS celebrated Kenya’s remarkable progress in reducing new HIV infections, HIV-related mortality, and mother-to-child transmission, as well as  improved access to life-saving treatment to over 1.4 million Kenyans living with HIV, attributing the success to strategic partnerships, legislative support and robust healthcare systems that the government has invested over the years. She commended implementing partners and healthcare professionals for their concerted efforts toward ending HIV and AIDS in Kenya.

Speakers at the conference called for an urgent, patient-centered, and integrated approach to meeting the evolving health needs of people living with HIV (PLHIV) while ensuring access to comprehensive healthcare services, including mental health support and the management of non-communicable diseases for all.

Nakhumicha highlighted the need for investments in local pharmaceutical manufacturing and digital health solutions, citing the Digital Health Act 2023 as crucial for fostering innovation and improving healthcare service delivery.

She reiterated the government’s commitment to enhancing healthcare accessibility and quality through the new Social Health Authority (SHA) and urged PLHIV to register with the latest healthcare scheme for comprehensive care manageme.

As a key partner in the ongoing summit, LVCT Health is dedicated to  facilitating universal access to equitable, integrated health services for vulnerable, marginalised and at-risk populations towards ending HIV, and GBV, including advancing sexual reproductive health services and mental health responses for healthier and empowered communities.

The summit, themed “Reimagining the HIV response in the Health Sector”, is attended by national and county government representatives, local implementing partner organisations, communities and bilateral partners. The event marks a significant step towards achieving HIV epidemic control in Kenya.