President William Ruto announced a landmark deal with pharmaceutical giant Pfizer that will drastically reduce the cost of cancer drugs in Kenya, cutting prices by more than sevenfold.

• The price of cancer medicines for several types of cancer, including breast, stomach, and lung cancer, has been reduced by more than seven times.
• Key players include President William Ruto, the Kenyan government, and Pfizer, facilitated through the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA).
• This agreement, part of Pfizer's Accord for a Healthier World initiative, aims to make cancer treatment more affordable and strengthen Kenya's Universal Health Coverage programme, potentially bringing a Sh1 million treatment cycle down to below Sh50,000.

Kenya has secured a significant deal with pharmaceutical giant Pfizer to dramatically reduce the cost of cancer medicines for patients. This agreement, signed under Pfizer’s Accord for a Healthier World programme, is expected to cut treatment expenses by over seven times for several types of cancer.

• Treatment costs for cancers like breast, stomach, and lung cancer could drop from as high as Ksh1 million to less than Ksh50,000 per cycle.
• The agreement was announced by President William Ruto following a meeting with Pfizer Chairman and CEO Albert Bourla.
• The deal will also grant Kenya earlier access to newer cancer drugs, potentially eliminating the current 10-year waiting period, and will support local pharmaceutical manufacturing in Africa.

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has been appointed to represent regional health organizations globally on the Joint Task Force on Global Health Architecture Reform.

• The Africa CDC will represent the priorities of 55 AU Member States.
• Key organization involved is the Africa CDC.
• This appointment signifies Africa's increased leadership in global health and provides a stronger platform for its priorities in shaping global health reforms.

Kenya is intensifying efforts to implement universal infant screening for sickle cell disease, aiming to improve early diagnosis and treatment for the estimated 250,000 people living with the condition.

• Approximately 14,000 children are born with sickle cell disease in Kenya annually.
• Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale is spearheading the initiative, emphasizing a national ambition for those with sickle cell disease to "thrive" rather than just survive.
• The government has incorporated sickle cell screening into broader maternal and child health programs and is expanding comprehensive care through various initiatives and training for health workers.