Nairobi — After efficiently eliminating drowsing sickness as a predominant effectively being risk, Kenya is now working to attain away with other brushed off tropical diseases (NTDs) that even appreciate an impression on many participants, in particular in sad and much away areas.
The World Correctly being Group (WHO) formally confirmed in June 2025 that Kenya had eliminated Human African Trypanosomiasis, repeatedly identified as drowsing sickness as a public effectively being say.
On August 8, 2025 at some level of a nationwide occasion in Nairobi, WHO handed over the reliable elimination certificate to the Ministry of Correctly being.
But effectively being officers narrate here is correct the starting.
“We are proud, but we will not stop here,” acknowledged Correctly being Cupboard Secretary Aden Duale.
“We’re now focusing on ending more diseases that continue to hurt our people, especially in rural communities.”
Kenya now objectives to attain away with extra diseases by 2027, 2028, and 2030.
These encompass trachoma, an seek infection that can lead to blindness if no longer treated, and lymphatic filariasis, in total identified as elephantiasis, which causes painful swelling, basically in the legs.
Onchocerciasis, or river blindness, is spread by blackflies and causes itchy skin and capability blindness. Rabies, a virulent illness largely spread through canine bites, could perhaps be on the list.
Leprosy impacts the skin and nerves and can motive incapacity if no longer treated early.
Soil-transmitted helminths are gut worms that can slack kid’s growth and studying.
The Ministry of Correctly being, working with partners similar to AMREF Correctly being Africa and FIND, has created a roadmap to serve achieve away with these diseases in stages.
Fixed with Dr. Patrick Amoth, the Director Strange for Correctly being, the concept also helps Kenya’s greater purpose of accomplishing Universal Correctly being Protection making decided every Kenyan gets the healthcare they want.
Kenya could perhaps be working to govern four extra diseases by 2030.
Leishmaniasis, spread by sandflies, causes painful skin sores and can wretchedness inner organs.
Schistosomiasis, brought about by waterborne worms, harms organs like the liver and bladder.
Snakebite envenoming can motive severe illness or demise if no longer treated quickly.
Kenya could perhaps be focusing on dengue and chikungunya, mosquito-borne viruses that motive fever, joint wretchedness, and other severe indicators.
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These diseases are harder to thoroughly achieve away with because they are tied to environmental and ecological prerequisites, nonetheless the authorities plans to lower their impression through greater prevention, early prognosis, and snappily medication.
Kenya’s newest success with drowsing sickness came after years of laborious work.
The nation went extra than ten years with out a single in the community transmitted case.
Correctly being staff accomplished extraordinary surveillance, managed the tsetse flit (which spreads drowsing sickness), improved lab checking out in rural areas, and made medication more straightforward to entry.
Now, Kenya plans to use the identical skill to fight the opposite diseases.
A five-year thought has already been rolled out to develop decided drowsing sickness doesn’t come help.
The Kenya Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Eradication Council (KENTTEC) will proceed to video show the say and retain watch over tsetse flies in excessive-risk areas.
Fundamental Secretary Mary Muthoni acknowledged the authorities is committed to making decided every Kenyan is true.
“This is not just about numbers. It’s about saving lives and building a health system that works for everyone,” she acknowledged.