The HIV commodities worth sh 1.2 billion stuck at the port of Mombasa since January were finally released after Kenya and the United States governments on Wednesday resolved stalemate on the anti-retroviral drugs.
The 1.2 million Kenyans who depend on the drugs were highly inconvenienced by the stalemate which disrupted the drug supply.
The stalemate was as a result of misunderstanding between the government of Kenya and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), a key donor of the drugs.
According to the National Aids Control Council CEO Ruth Masha, both sides had a series of meetings which enabled the issues to be addressed fully.
A framework to facilitate tax, fee waiver and the
distribution of the USAID purchased products was signed.
Masha stated, “These commodities are now cleared and ready for distribution.”
On May 11, 2021, Health Principal Secretary Susan Mochache appointed team that was tasked with breaking the stalemate.
Representatives were drawn from the Ministry of Health, National AIDS Control Council, National AIDS and STI Control Programme, Malaria Programme, Kenya Medical Supply Authority, Pharmacy and Poisons board and the Council of Governors.
The USAID agency had cited “trust issues” with the national medical supplies body (KEMSA) thereby opting to use a company called Chemonics International to procure and supply the drugs to Kenyans.
The consignment was stuck at the port of Mombasa after USAID declined to approve distribution of the drugs in the country following Kenyan government demands of millions in taxes for the healthcare donations.
Nevertheless, the National Aids Control Council CEO affirmed that they will continue to work with all stakeholders to address gaps and challenges in the HIV response. This includes the issues affecting the commodity supply chain.
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