Donor exit threatens gains in fight against neglected diseases

Kenya’s progress in fighting neglected tropical diseases is under threat, with health officials warning that dwindling donor support is forcing counties to tap into their own limited resources to sustain treatment and prevention efforts.

At a recent health stakeholders’ meeting in Eldoret, convened by Amref, county health leaders said they are facing serious financial gaps in tackling diseases such as intestinal worms, bilharzia, jiggers, sleeping sickness and trachoma.

These illnesses, which are widespread but often overlooked, continue to affect large sections of the population, particularly in rural areas.

Amref’s Programs Director for NTDs, Vincent Ouma, stressed the urgency of the situation and called for counties to fully own the fight.

“Twenty-five million Kenyans are at risk of one NTD or another. We have 10 million people who require treatment. This is a significant number that demands our attention,” he said, highlighting that 17 out of 21 WHO-identified NTDs are present in Kenya.

In Vihiga County, health officials say the financial pressure is already being felt. Martin Osotsi, the Director of Public Health, said the county has allocated Sh2.5 million for the 2025/26 financial year but warned that this may not be enough.

“We recognise that donor funding is declining, so health facilities must use their internal collections to support the fight against NTDs,” he said.

According to County NTD Coordinator Phanuel Khaenga, jiggers and bilharzia are the most common diseases in the region.

In Trans Nzoia, County NTD Coordinator Nobert Musundi said the need far outweighs the funds currently available.

“We require Sh25 million, but due to budget constraints, we have requested Sh12 million to begin the interventions. We hope the County Assembly will approve this amount. We also plan to partner with various stakeholders to help bridge the funding gap,” he said.

Musundi added that 7% of the population is dealing with intestinal worms, and two per cent are affected by bilharzia.

Bungoma is also struggling to secure enough money to meet its NTD goals. County Executive for Health Caroline Makali said intestinal worms are the most common neglected disease in the region, especially in areas like Tongaren.

“To eradicate these diseases by 2030, we must adopt a multi-sectoral approach. The budget for addressing neglected ailments is insufficient," she said.

Kakamega faces similar challenges. Public Health Director William Olata reported that 4.3% of the population is living with bilharzia, while 8.3% are affected by soil-transmitted diseases.

While a mass drug administration programme helped lower these rates, he admitted the gains may not last without stable funding.

As donor support continues to decline, health leaders stressed the need for stronger government involvement and increased allocations to ensure millions of vulnerable Kenyans are not left behind in the fight against diseases that are both treatable and preventable.