Kenya urges swift adoption of pandemic treaty at WHO assembly

Kenya has called on countries to urgently adopt a new global pandemic treaty and finalise its annex to guarantee technology transfer and fair benefits for developing nations.

Speaking at the 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said the agreement marked a critical milestone in global cooperation, achieved through years of negotiation.

“We have managed to achieve a monumental task that was set out before us by our future generations,” said Duale, adding, “This agreement will ensure that our children and their children are better prepared for future public health emergencies.”

The assembly, convened by the World Health Organisation (WHO), runs from May 19 to May 27.

It brings together health ministers and global stakeholders to review progress and set global health priorities.

This year’s theme is One World, One Health.

Kenya aligned itself with a joint statement delivered by Tanzania on behalf of the 47 member states of the Africa Region.

Duale urged delegates to accelerate the finalisation of the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing annex, known as PABS, which he said was critical to ensuring fairness in the global health system.

He added that Kenya supported a proposed 20 per cent increase in assessed contributions to the WHO budget, saying current reforms would ensure greater impact even with tighter resources.

“We believe the revised budget will achieve more impact even with less funding,” noted Duale.

He also criticised a global shift away from multilateralism, noting Kenya’s disappointment with rising self-interest in global health decisions.

“As a host of the United Nations office in Nairobi, we are deeply saddened by recent global events that appear to be shifting away from addressing crucial global health needs,” said Duale.

He reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to universal health coverage, citing the country’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, which includes deploying community health promoters and establishing the Social Health Authority to finance affordable healthcare.

Duale also condemned attacks on health workers and hospitals during conflicts, calling for increased humanitarian access in Gaza.

“We stand with you in the call for immediate and scaled access to humanitarian support for the people of Gaza,” said Duale.