Will Kenya’s commitment to NTDs make a difference in the health sector?

By Robert Mutasi

When Kenya joined the rest of the world in celebrating World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day, the focus was shifted to the nation's efforts in combating these crippling but often overlooked diseases.

Cabinet  Secretary of Health Dr. Deborah Mlongo Barasa has assured government efforts in fighting NTDs, something very positive, but it is unclear whether this new emphasis will bring tangible improvements in the health sector.

Because they lack clean water, sanitary facilities, and medical services, NTDs such as schistosomiasis, lymphatic filariasis, and trachoma strongly affect the poorer parts of society.

These diseases, in addition to causing severe pain, slow down economic growth and productivity, thereby developing cycles of poverty.

The success of Dr. Barasa's call for integrated health systems, sustainable funding, and stronger partnerships will focus on how well these are implemented.

Kenya's National Master Plan to eliminate NTD, 2023-2027, has a well-defined plan that includes community education, Vector Control, and drug management.

Meanwhile, initial efforts in the past have often been crippled by funding deficits, logistical challenges, and general vulnerabilities in health systems.

This is a systematic phenomenon that requires change on the part of the state if this new promise is to bear fruit. Among them is the mobilization of resources.

Because they are historically underfunded, most NTD programs rely on donations. At a critical moment, Kenya must look ultimately for local funding as plans are becoming truly sustainable.

Because Dr. Barasa argued, the import of services into national health could lead to increased efficiency and availability; this would involve infrastructure improvements, robust data from the collection that demonstrate progress, as well as training of health workers if those terms become more verbal.

Another more important point is community involvement. NTDs appear in conditions of poor hygiene and low health awareness. Participation and community education in prevention would pay dividends in the long term.

Promoting good hygiene and access to clean drinking water, for example, is as important as medical intervention. The promise of the state is welcome, but this goes a long way depends on the implementation.

With a new emphasis on NTDs, this could be a game shift in the Kenyan health sector if it really bridges gaps in finance, improves health systems, and involves active participation from the community.

Without continuous effort and responsibility, there is a high probability of failure. For millions of Kenyans, the restoration of opportunities and status is an added goal of eradicating diseases in their fight against NTDs. Now is the time to take action.