Duale Meets Paediatric Experts on Child Health Reforms
Nairobi, Kenya- - Health Cabinet Secretary Hon. Aden Duale held a consultative meeting with the Kenya Paediatric Association (KPA) delegation led by Supa Tunje to advance strategies for strengthening newborn, child, and adolescent health under Kenya’s Universal Health Coverage agenda.
Discussions focused on improving the quality of care across the full continuum—from pregnancy and delivery to postnatal care and early childhood—while reinforcing referral systems and closing critical gaps in essential services, including access to blood and other life-saving commodities.
Reducing maternal and newborn mortality remains a national priority under the Taifa Care Model. Efforts are being accelerated through the Every Woman Every Newborn Everywhere initiative (EWENE), supported by World Health Organization and UNICEF, alongside the Rapid Results Initiative (RRI), which is driving faster service delivery, clearing backlogs, and improving efficiency through targeted interventions.
The meeting also highlighted the need to review and strengthen benefit tariffs for children, particularly for immunisation and nutrition services, to expand equitable access.
The Cabinet Secretary emphasised scaling up fully equipped neonatal and paediatric intensive care units across regions to improve access to critical care. He further underscored the importance of workforce development through training and curriculum reforms to enhance service delivery.
KPA’s technical leadership was recognised in addressing policy gaps, strengthening health data systems, and promoting accountability, while ensuring children’s health priorities are reflected in decision-making.
The CS called for a unified approach among stakeholders to ensure every child not only survives but thrives, reaffirming the Government’s commitment to this agenda under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).