The Deputy President of Kenya, William Ruto met with UNAIDS Executive Director, Michel Sidibé and the Executive Director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFTAM), Dr Mark Dybul as part of their joint visit to the country.
At the meeting, Deputy President Ruto pledged to strengthen the country’s response to AIDS, health and development. He committed to implement the Roadmap for shared responsibility and global solidarity, adopted by African Heads of State at the 19th Summit of the African Union. The Roadmap offers a set of practical and African-owned solutions to enhance sustainable responses to AIDS, TB and malaria.
Deputy President Ruto outlined his vision to increase domestic financing for health through an innovative public-private trust fund for HIV and non-communicable diseases. The Deputy President also committed to exploring ways to manufacture medicines locally to reduce dependency on external financing and to ensure sustainability of the AIDS response.
During the joint visit to the country, the two leaders also met with representatives of the National Empowerment Network of PLHIV in Kenya (NEPHAK), who praised UNAIDS and the Global Fund’s role in addressing the sensitive issue of providing services to key populations at higher risk.
Although Kenya has diverse religious and cultural positions, the Government has an obligation to provide inclusive and effective services to all including sex workers, people who use drugs, men who have sex with men and people in prisons.
Deputy President of Kenya, William Ruto
Kenya has been a leader in using concrete evidence to direct the national AIDS response. The country is also leading on human rights issues in Africa thanks to effective HIV programmes focusing on the needs of key populations at higher risk.
UNAIDS Executive Director, Michel Sidibé
Investing for results demands that we put the financial resources in the geographic areas and among the population groups where can make an impact on peoples’ lives and get the greatest return on our investment
Executive Director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Dr Mark Dybul
Pushing the human rights agenda in the AIDS response is difficult and we thank UNAIDS and the Global Fund partnership to fight for access to HIV prevention, treatment and care services by key populations
Nelson Otwoma, Coordinator of the National Empowerment Network of PLHIV in Kenya
