Public Health and Professional Standards Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni has reaffirmed Kenya’s collaboration with global healthcare company Merck as a collaborative effort towards eliminating schistosomiasis and elevating the country’s wider public health agenda.
Meeting with Merck’s management in Nairobi, Mary Muthoni praised the firm for donating praziquantel continuously, the main medicine to combat the disease. According to her, the regular supply has treated millions of Kenyans and cut schistosomiasis infections by more than half between 2021 and 2023.
The PS also appreciated Merck’s pledge to local production of paediatric praziquantel by Universal Corporation Limited as a significant step towards the country’s ambition of producing more crucial medicines locally. “This is not just about medicine; it’s about building capacity, creating jobs, and ensuring no Kenyan child should suffer because treatment is not available,” she added.
Mary Muthoni also appreciated Merck’s overall investment in Kenya’s healthcare agenda, including its work in addressing non-communicable diseases one of the pillars of the country’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) agenda.
The two sides reaffirmed their pledge to deepen their collaboration in local pharmaceutical manufacturing, digital health platforms, and community-based activities all with the aim of a healthier, schistosomiasis-free Kenya.
The Merck contingent was led by Herald Nusser, company Head of Global Health and Health Equity.