Kitui, May 23, 2024 – Today, Kitui Governor Dr. Julius Malombe officially commissioned the “Kitui County Transition Roadmap to a Sustainable HIV/TB Program 2023-2027,” marking a significant milestone in the county’s public health efforts.
Speaking at the event, Governor Malombe highlighted the remarkable progress made in controlling the spread of HIV and TB within the county. He attributed this success to the collaborative efforts of the county government and its partners. Notably, the HIV prevalence rate in Kitui has decreased from 3.8% in 2021 to 3.1% in 2024.
Governor Malombe also detailed the financial support Kitui has received over the years, amounting to over Ksh 750 million since 2008, aimed at supporting HIV prevention, care, and treatment services. However, he raised concerns over the substantial reduction in donor funding, which has decreased from Ksh 161 million in 2017/2018 to Ksh 117 million in 2022/2023.
This reduction poses a challenge to the sustainability of the program.The newly launched Transition Roadmap aims to mitigate this challenge by shifting from reliance on US government funding to a county-led, owned, and funded HIV/TB program.
In line with this goal, Governor Malombe announced the establishment of the Kitui County Cooperative Agreement (CoAg) – the TUJIMUDU Project. This Government-to-Government funding initiative with the US Government has provided the county with Ksh 36 million to enhance the health system.
Dr. Jennifer Galbraith, the Centre for Disease Control Country Director, praised Kitui’s leadership for its significant progress in reducing HIV prevalence. She also commended the county government for its effective cooperation and commitment to public health.
The commissioning of the Transition Roadmap represents a forward-thinking approach to health management in Kitui, ensuring continued progress and sustainability in the fight against HIV and TB.
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