The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) HIV/AIDS Team Leader for Kenya, René Berger, will represent the U.S. Government at the launch of the Kenya Health Sector Referral Strategy.

When:  Wednesday, July 23

Time: 7:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

Where: Hilton Hotel, Nairobi

Background:  A strengthened health referral system is critical to improving efficiency in the health system and improving patient outcomes.  This is one of the priority investment areas outlined in the second Medium Term Plan of Kenya’s Vision 2030.
The new referral strategy will improve access to the Kenya Essential Package for Health services, especially for rural and poor populations. The strategy will also strengthen communication within health facilities, between facilities, and between communities and facilities; and build the capacity of health providers to identify clients who will be better served in other facilities. 

USAID supported the development of the strategy and guidelines through the Measure Pima activity, which assists the Ministry of Health in developing monitoring and evaluation systems. The Measure Pima activity is funded through the U.S. Government’s Presidents’ Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEFPAR).

In 2013, USAID invested more than Ksh 30 billion in family planning, maternal and child health, malaria, nutrition, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and treatment services. Strengthening health systems is a key focus across all of these health programs.