Kenya's Ministry of Health, led by Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, has launched over 10,000 oxygen equipment units under the Global Fund C19RM oxygen infrastructure project to enhance oxygen access across the country. These units, flagged off on Tuesday, October 4, are crucial for newborns and individuals with respiratory illnesses.

• The equipment includes 470 multiparameter patient monitors, 10,000 wall outlet flowmeters, and 612 oxygen analysers.
• Duale highlighted that this equipment will enhance early oxygen therapy for newborns and support patients with respiratory conditions like asthma and pneumonia.
• The project has already installed over 14 bulk oxygen tanks and delivered 1.2 million KG of liquid oxygen, leading to the development of ICUs in previously underserved regions such as West Pokot and Turkana.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued new guidelines titled Responding to the Health Financing Emergency to help countries like Kenya cope with sudden funding shocks following cuts in health aid by the administration of United States President Donald Trump.

• The WHO urges countries to prioritize health in national budgets, viewing health spending as an investment rather than a cost to be contained.
• President Trump initiated a near-total freeze on foreign aid in January of this year, impacting the health sector to align with the 'America First' strategy.
• In Kenya, the aid cuts led to shortages of critical medicines, including antiretrovirals and malaria medicines, and halted vaccine programs and health surveys.
• The WHO commended Kenya, South Africa, and Nigeria for allocating additional budget funds to health in response to the U.S. aid reduction.