This archive report was first published on 28 September 2019.
On September 27, 2019, the Centers for Disease Control Prevention (CDC) marked 40 years of partnership with Kenya in Kisumu, a milestone that highlights the organization's commitment to improving public health in the country.
The CDC is working on a groundbreaking HIV vaccine, HPTN-081, which uses antibody-mediated prevention to protect individuals from HIV infections. This innovative approach involves administering antibodies to individuals to safeguard them against HIV.
According to Dr. Marc Bulterys, the CDC country director, the vaccine has completed three trial phases and is being further developed to ensure its widespread roll-out. Dr. Bulterys emphasized the importance of targeting women, who are disproportionately affected by HIV.
"We are already done with three trial phases of the vaccine and are working towards making more progress that can help in fully preventing HIV," Dr. Bulterys said.
The CDC is also dedicated to supporting Kenya's Universal Health Coverage (UHC) program, which aims to provide free quality healthcare services to all citizens, including marginalized groups such as the LGBTQ+ community.
US Deputy Chief of Mission Eric Kneedler expressed the US government's commitment to supporting the UHC program as part of Kenya's Big Four agenda. "The aim is to see Kenya grow from a beneficiary to a benefactor," Mr. Kneedler said.
