Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards, Mary Muthoni, today officially opened the 2nd Primary Health Care (PHC) Congress convened by Amref Health Africa, bringing together health professionals, government leaders, and development partners to advance primary healthcare as the foundation of Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
The three-day congress, themed “Redesigning Primary Health Care: Building Resilience Amidst Global Uncertainty,” aims to strengthen PHC systems to improve access, resilience, and service delivery across Kenya.
Speaking during the opening session, PS Muthoni urged delegates to focus on practical, locally driven solutions.
She said, “Primary healthcare is the backbone of Universal Health Coverage. We must ensure that reforms and innovations are grounded in the realities of our communities to guarantee equitable access to quality care.”
She also highlighted progress under the Government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), noting that the Social Health Authority (SHA) Primary Health Care Fund has enabled over 8 million Kenyans to access free services at Level 2 and Level 3 facilities.
“Health financing reforms introduced in 2023 have restructured the system to expand access to care without financial hardship, ensuring no Kenyan is left behind,” she added.
The congress has attracted leading figures in the health sector, including Githinji Gitahi, CEO of Amref Health Africa; Lucy Mazaba, Regional Director at Africa CDC; Prof. Joachim Osur, Vice Chancellor of Amref International University; and Dr. Mathew Owili, Deputy Governor of Kisumu County, among other stakeholders.
The congress is set to explore innovative strategies to build resilient PHC systems capable of addressing emerging health challenges while ensuring that all Kenyans can access quality healthcare services close to home.
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