Kenya
Amref was founded in Kenya in 1957. We work with governments at national and county level and local communities to create lasting health change.
Amref in Kenya
Amref was founded in Nairobi, Kenya in 1957 as the Flying Doctors of East Africa. The flying doctors service delivered essential medical supplies and health services to remote Kenyan communities in Kajiado and Narok counties.
Through the decades, Amref has used the tools of the time, from aircraft to radio and digital technology, to grow into Africa’s leading health development organisation with our roots remaining firmly in Kenya.
Today our work in Kenya reaches all 47 counties. We work closely with the government, other partners, and local communities to sustainably strengthen the health system. We implement programmes in health worker training; water and disease prevention; women and girls’ health; climate x health; health innovation; social determinants of health.
What are the health challenges in Kenya?
Kenya faces the dual challenge of infectious diseases and a rising burden of non-communicable diseases. This, coupled with systemic challenges in healthcare delivery and the negative impacts of climate change, threatens the progress being made towards Health for All.
Kenya’s health worker ratio at 13.8 health workers per 10,000 people is still far below the WHO’s recommended levels to achieve Health for All. Overstretched health workers, poor health infrastructure, and uneven service provision particularly in rural areas are driving health inequity. For example, despite improvements in Kenya in recent years, maternal mortality remains high with 355 mothers dying for every 100,000 live births. This is far in excess of the Sustainable Development Goal targets of 70 deaths per 100,000 live births.
Infectious diseases such as pneumonia, malaria, and diarrheal diseases remain leading causes of under-five mortality in Kenya. While progress has been made, these diseases continue to burden the healthcare system, especially in underserved communities.
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease, are rapidly rising across Africa. In Kenya this poses a significant challenge to the healthcare system – with future cost of care set to increase exponentially.
of Kenyan households which contribute their health costs out-of-pocket. This can prevent them from accessing the necessary care
per 100,000 - the Maternal Mortality rate in Kenya
“We are committed to ensuring no-one is left behind.”
What does Amref do in Kenya?
Amref works to bring about lasting health change in Kenya. We do this through strengthening people-centred primary healthcare systems and addressing social determinants of health.
We implement programmes in:
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Images: (1) Elizabeth Namunyak is a Community health worker (CHW) based in Kirisiet, Suswa, in Narok County, Kenya (c) Amref Health Africa / Esther Sweeney