Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha has revealed that Kenya will be the proud host of the headquarters of the prestigious International Vaccine Institute (IVI) following a successful bidding process.

During a meeting with the Departmental Committee on Health at the Parliamentary Buildings, Nakhumicha declared, “This is a significant milestone for Kenya and a testament to our commitment to global health initiatives.”

The decision to host the IVI headquarters in Kenya comes after the CS’s active participation in the Africa Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) forum during the AU’s 37th Ordinary Session in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Nakhumicha emphasized Kenya’s dedication to vaccine manufacturing, particularly targeting childhood, adolescent girls, and maternal immunization to combat public health challenges effectively.

The CS also highlighted the government’s commitment to providing high-quality healthcare for all citizens through Universal Health Coverage (UHC) programs. She outlined ongoing reforms, including the renaming of NHIF to SHIF and the enactment of new health laws, aimed at enhancing healthcare accessibility and affordability.

Nakhumicha urged Parliament to allocate necessary resources to agencies involved in UHC implementation and revealed the establishment of a transition committee, chaired by Jason Kap-Kirwok, to oversee the smooth shift from NHIF to the newly formed Social Health Authority (SHA).