Kenya joins Sh2.3trn universal health coverage fundraising drive

Kenya is among countries that have pledged funds for improving maternal and newborn health and social services that have been disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The more than 10 countries and organisations have committed $20.6 billion (Sh2.30 trillion) to enable women, newborns, children and adolescents access to health services throughout the Covid-19 crisis and recovery periods.

Out of the total pledge, $6.6 billion representing 32 percent was committed by low and middle-income countries such as Afghanistan, India, Kenya, Liberia, and Nigeria.

An additional $14 billion (68 percent) is from official development assistance and grants given by Germany, Canada, Sweden, UK, USA and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

They made the pledges during a universal health coverage (UHC) summit convened on Friday by Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH) and CORE Group. PMNCH is a global alliance of more than 1,000 organisations, hosted by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The funds amounting to $2.2 billion (Sh245.48 billion) will be provided between 2021 and 2022 for UHC programmes. Additional finances have been committed under the post Covid-19 economic recovery strategy.

The pandemic is reported to have had an indirect impact on child and maternal mortality, with more than two million child and maternal deaths estimated over the 12 months period to June 2021.

This is above the pre-pandemic levels owing to disruption of essential health and nutrition.

This has been attributed to a lack of or declined incomes in households and disruption of health provision.

The World Bank recently warned that global poverty was on the rise for the first time since 1998, with an estimated 47 million women and girls being pushed into extreme poverty.

This will increase the total number of women and girls living in extreme poverty to 435 million, with projections showing that this number will not revert to pre-pandemic levels until 2030.

“The health and well-being of women, children and adolescents are now at great risk, with inequities compounded by narrowing access to essential health services such as antenatal care, skilled assistance at childbirth, postnatal care, immunizations and family planning,” Helen Clark, chairperson of PMNCH and former Prime Minister of New Zealand, said.

“Our concern is that resources are being diverted away to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic.”

WHO data from 105 countries show that 90 percent of countries have experienced disruptions to health services, with low- and middle-income ones reporting the greatest difficulties.