The Cabinet Secretary for Health Mutahi Kagwe has urged East African Member states to better address emerging health Threats,
The Cabinet Secretary was speaking during a meeting with the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Kenya Steve Jackson.
Kagwe said that the coronavirus pandemic exposed the need for coordinated approaches to health emergencies.
“Kenya is the chair of the EAC Council of Health Ministers and your colleagues in the region will need to think regionally so that we can work together. We just welcomed DRC to the community and we now need to think as a region in our responses.” Stated the health CS.
While welcoming the appointment of Dr. Abdourahmane Diallo, the newly appointed WHO country director, Kagwe said his past experience as a health minister in Guinea as well as having worked in leading roles at the national, regional, and global levels on a range of key public health issues, makes him a perfect fit.
“For me, that he had worked as a minister was a perfect fit. He is someone who will understand from the word go. When you are seated on a problem where everyone’s disease is your problem, you need someone who understands.” Observed the CS.
Kagwe said that Kenya and WHO have established a strong partnership, a bond that the government seeks to sustain.
He pledged that Kenya will support the global body in its latest plan to establish a regional center in Kenya.
According to United Nations Resident Coordinator in Kenya Steve Jackson, WHO remains committed to supporting Kenya in her efforts to reform the health sector as well as deal with emerging health challenges?
Diallo said his appointment presents him with an opportunity to serve the people of Kenya having previously worked in the country on other engagements.
Prior to his appointment as the Country Director, Diallo was the Chief Executive Officer for the RBM Partnership to End Malaria, a position he had held since 2019.
Before joining the RBM Partnership, Dr. Diallo served as Minister of Health for Guinea and Advisor to the President from 2016 to 2019, dealing with the Ebola crisis and subsequent rebuilding of the national health system.