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{
    "id": 1567907,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1567907/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 86,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Malindi, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Amina Mnyazi",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Hon. Speaker, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 44(2)(c), I rise to request for a statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Health regarding the impact of the recent withdrawal of United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funding on healthcare financing in the country. On 20th January 2025, the USA President Donald J. Trump issued an Executive Order titled Re-evaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid . The Order imposed a 90-day pause on all US foreign development assistance programmes to allow for a comprehensive review. This decision has disrupted billions of dollars earmarked for health, education and development worldwide, with no exemptions for essential health programmes such as the Presidential Emergency Plan for AIDS relief. Access to healthcare services is not only a right guaranteed under Article 43 of the Constitution, but also a vital driver of economic growth, public health and environmental sustainability. The USAID has historically been a major contributor to Kenya's health sector funding programmes in HIV/AIDS treatment, malaria prevention and maternal healthcare. Notably, over 25 per cent of the country's annual HIV-related health budget relies on US Government funding, and direct US support accounts for 29 per cent of the HIV medicines available in the country. Unfortunately, all USAID health programmes in the country are scheduled to end by September 2025. The resulting funding gap threatens to disrupt life-saving treatments and services, directly impacting thousands of patients across the country. It is projected that 54,000 healthcare workers could lose their jobs while institutions such as the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) face deficits amounting to Ksh600 million, thus hampering the availability of critical medical supplies that are essential for both prevention and ongoing patient support. Hon. Speaker, it is against this background that I seek a statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Health on the following: 1. Report on the measures being undertaken by the Government to address the impact of the recent withdrawal of USAID funding in Kenya, which has previously supported critical health sectors such as HIV/AIDS treatment, malaria prevention and maternal care. 2. Current status of essential drug supplies for all the critical sectors that are supported by USAID, including whether there are sufficient stocks available and indicate how long those supplies are expected to last given the current national demand. 3. The immediate and long-term action plans by the Government to mitigate the negative effects arising from the USAID funding withdrawal, including ensuring uninterrupted healthcare services for the affected populations. I thank you, Hon. Speaker."
}