USAID, Kemsa in Sh65bn medical supplies deal
What you need to know:
- Kemsa CEO John Munyu said the award reflects the confidence and trust institutions have in the organisation.
- Dr Munyu said some of the commodities are already in transit to selected counties.
The US government, through USAid has awarded the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (Kemsa) Sh65 billion to supply drugs and medical equipment in the country.
The five-year contract will see Kemsa procure and distribute HIV/Aids test kits and medications, contraceptives, malaria test kits and drugs as well as maternal and child-health equipment for all public hospitals across the 47 counties.
The Kemsa Medical Commodities Program is said to be the “largest bilateral direct contract” USAid has had with any entity in the world.
“This program represents the largest single bilateral award ever made by a USAid mission in the history of the agency,” US ambassador to Kenya Robert Godec said during the signing of the agreement in Embakasi, Nairobi, on Monday.
USAid Kenya and East Africa Mission Director Karen Freeman said: “In 2012, USAID signed an agreement with Kemsa for handling US Government-funded medical supplies, and in the past three years Kemsa has procured supplies on behalf of US Government worth Sh9 billion.”
Kemsa CEO John Munyu said the award reflects the confidence and trust institutions have in the organisation.
“Kemsa’s ultimate goal is to improve the health of Kenyan families,” he said.
Dr Munyu said some of the commodities are already in transit to selected counties.
