The Cabinet Secretary for Health Aden Duale has engaged leaders of the National Nurses Association of Kenya and international eye care partners in a consultative meeting aimed at strengthening healthcare delivery and advancing key reforms in the country’s health sector.
The discussions brought together nursing leaders and global health stakeholders to review priority issues affecting frontline healthcare workers while also assessing Kenya’s progress in eye health and preparations for major international conferences scheduled to take place in the country.
During the meeting with the National Nurses Association of Kenya delegation led by Chairperson Collins Otieno Ojwang, the Cabinet Secretary acknowledged the central role nurses play in sustaining healthcare services across the country.
Duale emphasised that nurses remain the backbone of the health system, accounting for nearly 70 per cent of the workforce and providing essential services at all levels of care.
He observed that strengthening the nursing workforce remains critical in advancing Universal Health Coverage and improving patient outcomes nationwide.
“Nurses form the backbone of our healthcare system and continue to play a vital role in delivering essential services alongside Community Health Promoters,” Duale stated, adding that the government remains committed to implementing reforms aimed at strengthening primary healthcare, expanding access to services and improving the quality of care.
The engagement also focused on practical measures to enhance service delivery, with particular emphasis on improving training in Antenatal Care (ANC), which health experts have identified as a priority area in efforts to reduce maternal and newborn complications.
Duale noted that strengthening maternal healthcare services through improved training and professional development for nurses would significantly contribute to better health outcomes for mothers and infants.
Ojwang, in his remarks, welcomed the continued collaboration between the Ministry of Health and nursing professionals, noting that sustained engagement is key to addressing challenges affecting the sector.
He pointed out that nurses remain at the frontline of healthcare delivery and require continuous professional support, training and policy attention to effectively meet the country’s growing health needs.
Importantly, the meeting also reviewed preparations for the upcoming International Nurses Day celebrations scheduled for 6–12 May 2026 under the global theme “Our Nurses. Our Future. Empowered Nurses Save Lives.”
To this regard, Duale explained that the week-long activities will highlight the vital role nurses play in strengthening healthcare systems while supporting community-based programmes aimed at improving public health services.
He further emphasised that recognising the contribution of nurses will help inspire greater investment in the profession and reinforce efforts to build a resilient healthcare system.
Meanwhile, the consultations also provided an opportunity for the Ministry to engage international eye care partners in reviewing preparations for the 2030 In Sight Live Conference, which will be held in Kenya from 4th–6th June 2026.
The global conference, organised by the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, is expected to bring together international leaders, practitioners and innovators to accelerate efforts to eliminate avoidable blindness by the year 2030.
According to the Cabinet Secretary, hosting the conference presents Kenya with an opportunity to showcase its progress in eye health while strengthening partnerships that support specialised healthcare services.
He emphasised the importance of collaborative partnerships involving development agencies, professional associations, civil society organisations, faith-based institutions, and the private sector in advancing eye health programmes.
“The progress we have made in eye health demonstrates the impact of strong partnerships and coordinated efforts across the health sector,” Duale remarked.
Notably, Kenya has recorded significant improvements in eye health services over the past three decades, with the prevalence of blindness declining from 0.7 per cent in 1990 to 0.37 per cent in 2023.
Health experts attribute the progress to expanded cataract surgical services, improved availability of eye care specialists across 40 of the country’s 47 counties, strengthened school-based eye health programmes, and successful elimination of trachoma in several regions.
Despite these achievements, the Cabinet Secretary acknowledged that several challenges continue to affect access to eye care services, particularly shortages and uneven distribution of skilled personnel in underserved and arid and semi-arid areas.
He also noted that financial and geographical barriers remain obstacles for many Kenyans seeking specialised eye treatment.
To address these challenges, Duale announced that the Government has integrated eye care services under the Social Health Authority (SHA) framework, with optical and specialised care packages currently under review to expand coverage and improve access.
In addition, the Cabinet Secretary reiterated Kenya’s commitment to achieving the World Health Organization’s 2030 eye health targets, which include increasing effective cataract surgical coverage by 30 percent and expanding refractive error coverage by 40 per cent.
He assured that the Government will continue strengthening workforce capacity, improving health infrastructure, enhancing sustainable financing mechanisms, and promoting multi-sector collaboration to achieve these goals.
On the whole, the twin engagements reflected the Ministry of Health’s broader strategy to reinforce both human resources for health and specialised care services, positioning Kenya to deliver equitable, quality and accessible healthcare for all.
Stakeholders in both meetings reiterated the need for sustained policy support, innovation and coordinated action to address emerging health challenges and consolidate gains made in the sector.
The meeting was attended by Director General for Health Dr Patrick Amoth, Dr. Andrew Toro, Registrar of the Nursing Council of Kenya Dr. Lister Onsongo, representatives from Johnson and Johnson, international eye care partners led by Moses Chege, and technical teams from the Ministry of Health.
by Nicholas Ochieng and Nyawira Githinji
