Health Updates

💊 KENYA SECURES LICENCE TO MANUFACTURE ONCE-MONTHLY HIV PREVENTION PILL

Kenya is set to become one of three African countries positioned to manufacture alimatravir, an investigational once-monthly oral HIV prevention pill.

Pharmaceutical company Merck has licensed seven generic manufacturers, including UCL Kenya, to produce lower-cost versions of the drug for low- and middle-income markets.

Alimatravir is being developed as once-monthly oral PrEP and is currently undergoing Phase 3 clinical trials. Manufacturing and wider access will depend on successful trials and regulatory approval.

The agreement marks a significant step for local pharmaceutical manufacturing and Africa's participation in producing HIV prevention medicines.

🌍 KENYA SET TO HOST 5,000+ DELEGATES FOR MAJOR PUBLIC HEALTH CONFERENCE

Kenya is preparing to host more than 5,000 delegates from over 30 countries for the Kenya Public Health International Conference (KEPHIC 2026), scheduled for October 27–29 at KICC, Nairobi.

Held under the theme “One Health, Shared Future,” the conference will bring together health professionals, policymakers, researchers and partners to connect, share knowledge, learn and collaborate on public health priorities.

📅 27–29 October 2026
📍 KICC, Nairobi

Registration is currently open through the official KEPHIC platform.

🏆 EMBU HEALTH CECM JAMAL RUNYENJE RANKED TOP NATIONALLY IN AFRICA CHAMPIONS AWARDS RESEARCH

Embu County Health CECM Jamal Runyenje Ogw, has been recognised as the Best Performing CECM in the Central Region and ranked Position 1 nationally, according to research announced by Africa Champions Awards International.

The recognition forms part of the organisation's 2026 awards programme and places Runyenje among public-sector leaders recognised for performance and leadership.

Africa Champions Awards International is an independent Pan-African recognition platform focusing on leadership, governance and excellence, with its selection criteria including impact and innovation.

The recognition comes amid ongoing health-sector programmes in Embu spanning primary and community healthcare, specialist services, medicines and diagnostics, SHA implementation, digital health and partnerships.

👁️ FREE EYE SCREENING, GLASSES & CATARACT SURGERIES SET FOR EMBU

Residents of Embu County will access free eye screening, medication, near-vision glasses and cataract surgeries during a three-day eye camp organised by the Embu County Department of Health and Kenya Society for the Blind.

📍 Kiritiri Level III Hospital
📅 Sept 29 — Eye Clinic
📅 Oct 1 — Surgical Procedures
☎️ 0716 786 796

📍 Gategi Level III Hospital
📅 Sept 30 — Eye Clinic
☎️ 0721 229 774

The programme offers residents an opportunity to have eye conditions identified and treated closer to home.

COUNTY HEALTH OFFICIALS ALERTED OVER SUSPECTED WORLD BANK IMPERSONATION APPROACH

County health officials have been urged to exercise caution following reports of a woman identifying herself as “Moraa” and claiming an association with the World Bank while approaching senior county health officials over purported equipment for Primary Health Care programmes.

Information shared with Health Updates indicates that the caller presents detailed knowledge of Kenya's health programmes, including Primary Health Care, Universal Health Coverage, SHA and digital health systems, and reportedly discusses individual counties' health needs before seeking introductions to technical officers and health-facility teams.

The reported approach raises concerns about institutional impersonation and social engineering — particularly where familiarity with government programmes may be used to establish credibility before access to officials, facilities or information is sought.

The World Bank itself warns that increasingly sophisticated schemes misuse its name, branding and the identities of purported employees. Its guidance specifically identifies impersonation of World Bank officials as a known fraud technique and advises recipients of suspicious approaches to independently verify a person's identity through official channels.

Officials receiving unsolicited approaches claiming to represent development partners should independently confirm both the individual and the proposed programme through the organisation's established official channels before making introductions, disclosing information or facilitating access to county institutions.

The World Bank advises people targeted by suspected impersonation schemes not to provide personal or financial information and says suspected fraud should be reported to appropriate local law-enforcement authorities.

10-DAY CARDIOLOGY MEDICAL CAMP UNDERWAY AT KENYATTA NATIONAL HOSPITAL

A 10-day cardiology medical camp is underway at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), bringing attention to cardiovascular health, screening and the importance of early detection and management of heart conditions.

The medical camp, running from September 20 to 30, 2026, has been organised by the KNH Cardiology Department in partnership with Kibos International Health Foundation of Japan.

In a message accompanying the initiative, Dr. Gladys Njihia, identified as a cardiologist and Head of the Cardiology Department at KNH, highlights the importance of understanding cardiovascular risk and taking preventive heart health seriously.

The initiative provides an opportunity to put greater focus on prevention, early identification of cardiovascular risks and timely medical intervention.

📅 September 20–30, 2026
📍 Kenyatta National Hospital

EMBU TOPS ALL 47 COUNTIES IN SHA DISPENSING COMPLETION RATE

Embu County has recorded the highest dispensing completion rate nationally at 73.2%, according to data presented in the Social Health Authority’s Primary Healthcare Fund Impact Report 2026.

The report, whose county comparison is based on data as of February 2026, ranks all 47 counties according to dispensing completion rate. Embu leads at 73.2%, followed closely by Kisii, Nakuru and Mandera, while the report records a wide variation in performance across counties.

Importantly, the indicator relates to completion of dispensing at public health facilities. The report identifies completion of treatment as a major gap in the health system, noting that some patients are lost at the final stage of care delivery.

The 73.2% performance places Embu at the top of the national comparison and provides an important indicator of how the county’s public facilities are performing within the SHA-linked dispensing system.

🧪 EMBU EYES LOCAL FOOD LAB IN NEW FOOD SAFETY PUSH

Embu County is considering setting up a dedicated food laboratory to strengthen food testing, quality assurance and consumer protection.

The proposal emerged during the County Food Safety & Fortification Alliance meeting, where stakeholders reviewed nutrition and surveillance findings, food fortification strategies and gaps in representation.

Health CECM Jamal Runyenje Ogw says the county will move to broaden participation as planning around the proposed laboratory progresses.