By Joshua Otieno | May 4, 2026
NAIROBI, KENYA — Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has held talks with officials from the Kenya Paediatric Association led by Supa Tunje, focusing on strategies to improve newborn, child and adolescent healthcare under Kenya’s Universal Health Coverage programme.
The discussions centered on strengthening healthcare services across the full continuum—from pregnancy and childbirth to postnatal care and early childhood development—while also addressing gaps in referral systems and shortages of critical supplies such as blood and other life-saving commodities.
Lowering maternal and newborn deaths remains a key national priority under the Taifa Care Model, with the government accelerating implementation through the World Health Organization– and UNICEF-backed Every Woman Every Newborn Everywhere (EWENE) initiative.
The Cabinet Secretary noted that the Rapid Results Initiative (RRI) is also playing a crucial role in improving service delivery by reducing delays and enhancing efficiency through targeted interventions.
The meeting further explored the need to review and improve healthcare benefit tariffs for children, particularly in immunisation and nutrition services, to ensure equitable access to quality care.
Duale emphasized the importance of expanding fully equipped neonatal and paediatric intensive care units across different regions to improve access to specialised treatment, while also strengthening the healthcare workforce through enhanced training and curriculum reforms.
He commended the Kenya Paediatric Association for its role in addressing policy challenges, improving health data systems and promoting accountability in the sector.
The CS urged all stakeholders to collaborate in ensuring that every child not only survives but thrives, reaffirming the government’s commitment to advancing child healthcare under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.
