Kenya has made a further step to improve quality and access to primary healthcare by making an agreement with Cuba which will see the two nations enhance cooperation in the provision of healthcare.

This comes at a time when the Kenyan government is looking to strengthen Kenya’s primary healthcare system as a catalyst to achieving universal healthcare.

On Tuesday, Health CS Mutahi Kagwe and Cuban ambassador to Kenya Juan Manuel Rodriguez, agreed to further diplomatic engagement in the health sector for the benefit of the two countries.

CS Kagwe said the health agreement signed by the two countries in 2017, that actualized an exchange programme where Cuban doctors came into the country to help fill gaps in county hospitals while Kenyan doctors were sent to Cuba for specialized training, has so far been successful.

“We now need to send more healthcare workers from Kenya to Cuba for specialized training. We are also looking to have Kenyan medics get attached in Cuban facilities, especially in the areas of cancer and malaria control,” CS Kagwe said.

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Cuban ambassador said his government is committed to the full implementation of the bilateral agreements adding that Havana remains ready to help Kenya train its human capital on available technologies.

“We look forward to the implementation of our agreements. Our priority is to complete the programs we began,” Ambassador Rodriguez said.

Mr Kagwe further stated that the ongoing collaboration should be extended to the field of research, vaccines, and pharmaceutical products to further enhance Kenya’s capacity to deal with emerging health challenges.

“With Biovax we now have the capacity to engage. We also have Moderna beginning to manufacture for the continent from Kenya. AstraZeneca of India is also looking at using Kenya as a manufacturing base for the region. We are now ready to discuss local manufacturing."

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