Kenya is grappling with an unprecedented medical supply shortage, leaving millions at risk.
Critical resources like HIV drugs, testing kits, and vaccines run out.
Both public and private hospitals are reporting depleted stocks of Atazanavir, a vital HIV medication, alongside condoms, BCG vaccines for newborns, and most HIV-testing equipment.
Dr. Ruth Laibon-Masha, CEO of the National Syndemic Diseases Council, voiced her alarm:
“We currently have 1.378 million people living with HIV in Kenya.
Without consistent access to medication, we risk undoing years of progress in fighting the epidemic.”
The shortage comes at a dire time. Kenya recorded 16,752 new HIV infections in 2024, with women disproportionately affected.
The lack of HIV drugs and testing kits poses a significant threat, especially to discordant couples and vulnerable children.
Over 20,000 AIDS-related deaths were reported last year, underscoring the critical need for sustained medical interventions.
The crisis extends beyond HIV care. Nationwide, BCG vaccines for tuberculosis in newborns are out of stock.
While 2.6 million doses are expected later this month, many infants remain unvaccinated.
Increasing the risk of preventable diseases.
Refugee camps like Kakuma and Dadaab are also reeling, with essential vaccines nearly depleted.
Adding to the turmoil, healthcare facilities face financial instability.
A recent survey revealed that 89% of facilities struggle to cover operational costs, while 87% cannot meet payroll demands.
This health emergency highlights systemic inefficiencies.
Last year, over one million condoms, nearly a million mosquito nets, and tuberculosis drugs worth millions vanished from Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) warehouses.
A Global Fund report exposed gross mismanagement, inflated costs, and untraceable commodities.
KEMSA has yet to deliver 31 million condoms, while another 93.6 million pledged by the Global Fund remain undelivered.
The last stock of 7.2 million condoms was distributed over Christmas, leaving facilities empty.
In response, the Ministry of Health has issued guidelines to optimize remaining supplies and transition eligible patients to alternative treatments.
However, these measures provide little comfort to patients anxiously awaiting medication and vaccines.
As a nation celebrated for its HIV/AIDS response, Kenya now faces a crisis that threatens to reverse decades of progress.
While relief is promised by February, the immediate reality for thousands is one of uncertainty and desperation.
