Kenya Calls for Equity and Global Solidarity in Ebola Response at WHA79
Geneva, - Kenya has called for fairness, urgency, and equal global solidarity in responding to the ongoing Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda during the 79th World Health Assembly in Geneva, warning that the crises present a critical test of equity in global health response systems.
Delivering Kenya’s national statement, Health Cabinet Secretary Hon. Aden Duale said health emergencies affecting African countries must receive the same urgency, financing, scientific attention, and coordinated international support often witnessed in crises elsewhere globally.
Aligning Kenya’s position with the African regional statement presented by Zimbabwe on behalf of the WHO African Region, the Cabinet Secretary emphasized that equity must remain central to global health governance, emergency preparedness, and outbreak response mechanisms.
Hon. Duale reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to ongoing negotiations on the Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) Annex, stressing that countries sharing biological samples and outbreak data must be assured fair access to vaccines, therapeutics, and other resulting benefits. He noted that the current Ebola outbreaks continue to expose longstanding inequities in global health systems.
The Cabinet Secretary further outlined Kenya’s vision for a stronger and more resilient global health architecture anchored on equity, self-reliance, sustainable financing, local pharmaceutical manufacturing, and strengthened multilateral cooperation.
He called for accelerated investment in regional pharmaceutical manufacturing through technology transfer, strategic partnerships, and sustainable financing mechanisms to reduce dependency and strengthen Africa’s health security capacity.
Hon. Duale also advocated for financing frameworks that promote domestic resource mobilisation and long-term health system resilience while underscoring the importance of strengthening institutions such as the World Health Organization and Africa CDC to enhance trust, legitimacy, and coordinated global health action.
Kenya, he affirmed, remains committed to constructive engagement in shaping a more equitable, responsive, and resilient global health system capable of addressing future public health emergencies.
The Cabinet Secretary was accompanied by Kenya’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva H.E. Dr. Fancy Too, Director-General for Health Dr. Patrick Amoth, Digital Health Agency CEO Eng. Anthony Lenaiyara, and Director of Family Health Dr. Bashir Issak.