Kenya Commits to Eliminating Sleeping Sickness with Historic National Declaration

 By Enock Mwenga

In a bold stride toward a healthier future, Kenya has officially launched a national declaration to eliminate Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT), widely known as sleeping sickness. The milestone event was marked during a high-level breakfast gathering at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Nairobi, attended by senior government officials, public health experts, and development partners.

Held under the inspiring theme "One Health, One Fight, towards a sleeping sickness free Kenya," the occasion underscored Kenya’s determination to eradicate this neglected tropical disease. Transmitted by the tsetse fly, HAT is a parasitic disease that, if untreated, can be debilitating or even fatal. The declaration affirms the government’s long-term resolve to protect both human and animal health from this zoonotic threat.

The event was spearheaded by the Kenya National Public Health Institute (NPHI) in collaboration with the Government of Kenya. Guests were treated to compelling documentaries and interviews showcasing the real-life impact of sleeping sickness and the encouraging progress made so far. The emphasis was on the One Health approach, a holistic and multidisciplinary strategy that integrates efforts across human, animal, and environmental health sectors to confront diseases like HAT.

By unveiling this declaration, Kenya has drawn a strategic roadmap for eliminating sleeping sickness. Key pillars include improved surveillance, access to timely and accurate diagnostics, and targeted treatment interventions in high-risk regions. These efforts are expected not only to save lives but also to uplift livelihoods by improving livestock health and agricultural output in tsetse-affected areas.

This commitment signals Kenya’s continued leadership in the fight against neglected tropical diseases both regionally and globally. It demonstrates that through political will, scientific collaboration, and community engagement, even the most persistent health challenges can be conquered.

The declaration marks more than a policy shift. It is a national movement toward health equity, rural development, and long-term disease elimination. Kenya now stands poised to become a beacon of success in the global campaign against sleeping sickness.

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