Why communities are key in handling pandemic outbreaks and prevention

Communities have been identified as key in surveillance and response of pandemic outbreaks in the country, health stakeholders have said.

In the error of Ebola outbreaks in Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), stakeholders maintain failure to involve communities results into spread of diseases, that results into deaths and strain on healthcare systems.

Involvement of the communities, according to stakeholders come in handy, amid a drop in donor support in the country, more so after stop work order by the U.S. President Donald Trump.

Speaking during the national community systems strengthening knowledge dissemination forum held in Naivasha, the Chairperson of the Community Systems Strengthening Technical Working Group (CSS TWG) Dr Zilpha Samoei, said Kenya has made significant progress in community-led health interventions, particularly within HIV programmes.

Samoei said community systems remain central to Kenya's efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery, contain disease outbreaks and sustain gains made in HIV programming.

The official noted that Kenya is among the African countries actively scaling up Community-Led Monitoring (CLM) initiatives and peer-led models that have helped improve access to services and treatment outcomes.

Some of the successful models include HIV peer educators, adolescent and youth champions, mentor mothers and other community health structures that have supported service uptake and adherence to treatment.

"These community-led approaches have contributed to improved access to services and helped the country attain high levels of viral suppression among people living with HIV," said Dr Samoei.

Kenya has achieved viral suppression rates of about 89 per cent.

According to data by National Syndemic Disease Control Council (NSDCC), the national HIV prevalence in Kenya stands at 3.22 percent, with an estimated 1,481,853 people living with HIV (PLHIV), as of 2026.

The overall, total new HIV infections declined by 56.5%, from 32,027 in 2021 to 13,936 in 2026.

However, Samoei warned that the sustainability of these gains in health programs like HIV, TB and malaria are under threat due to emerging financial challenges.

Other concerns raised were uncertainties around long-term financing for Community Health Promoters (CHPs), inadequate resource allocation by county and national governments, poor remuneration and limited capacity-building opportunities for community health workers.

She also pointed to fragmented community structures, which continue to undermine coordination and efficiency in healthcare delivery.

Also, participants at the forum emphasised that communities are the first line of defence in identifying and responding to disease outbreaks.

On his part, National Empowerment Network of People Living with HIV (NEPHAK) CEO Nelson Otwoma highlighted the role communities play in managing outbreaks such as Ebola and Mpox.

He noted that lessons from previous outbreaks have shown that pandemics begin and end within communities, making community engagement essential for effective response efforts.

Drawing from experiences in the DRC, he recalled instances where communities resisted Ebola response efforts due to inadequate engagement and cultural sensitivities, including restrictions on viewing deceased relatives.

"In DRC, some communities even burnt Ebola treatment facilities because they felt excluded from the response process. This demonstrates why communities must be involved from the beginning," said Otwoma.

Head of community health at the Ministry of Health Dr Salim Hussein on his part drummed support for community systems strengthening

Communities he said are key in realisation of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and foundation of the primary healthcare that targets promotive and preventive health, at household level.

Hussein noted a shift in Global Health and disease patterns in the country, that continue to threaten the country’s health system.

“We are facing a shifting disease pattern, digital transformation and shifting donor models. This forces us to be at the forefront and very dynamic. As a division of primary healthcare, we bring structural facilities, community systems are lifeline of these networks,” said Dr Hussein.

The official maintained the need to have sustainable financing, integration, resilient in equipping community health structures to handle pandemics and outbreaks whenever they happen.

Country Director Amref Kenya Dr Ndirangu Wanjuki said communities have been key in reduction of HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria across the country.

Working with communities locally, he said remedy the health system.

“When you give communities tools, and trust them, its currency of health system and also trust them with truth, we shall get successful results in healthcare,” he said.

Wanjuki maintained that communities have help reduce viral load in the country, in addition to being key in helping reduce malaria cases and deaths in children.

“Communities hold our health systems together. The networks keep system running,” he said.

Though the government has allocated stipends of Sh5,000 for Community Health Promoters (CHPs), he said there is need to ensure other community health systems are financed.

Concerns over declining donor support and the future sustainability of community health programmes also featured prominently during the discussions.

Health NGO Network (HENNET) executive director Dr Marget Lubaale on her part observed that transition from donor to domestic health financing has brought a mixed issue, a move that is likely to affect gains made in respective health programs.

Amid transition, she emphasised that communities are integral part of infrastructure.

“If communities are removed from equation, we shall no longer be talking about service delivery. It will be a health system minus people that make quality services,” said Lubaale.

As Kenya works on the plan to actualise the G2G funding model, she said Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) should be involved, because they have evidences and lived experiences in healthcare system.

“Communities are essential. With donor dwindling, it does not mean we throw the baby with birth-water. For me, communities remain integral in the system whether it is surveillance, monitoring, budget advocacy and prevention of disease outbreaks,” maintained the CEO.

Further, Lubaale said the government should support communities by paying them, for example mentor mothers who help prevent mother to child HIV transmission.

Mentor mothers, peer advocate and key populations she said act swiftly, yet they do not fall under Community Health Promoters (CHPs) who are aligned within the health systems.

Lean on Me Foundation boss Maureen Murenga said despite pandemic threat Kenya is faced with financial constraints after drop in donor funding.

“It is evident there is no money. We are facing a lot of donor uncertainty, and if there is a time community needs to be active, it is now,” said Murenga.

She noted the need for communities to push government out of comfort zones of being mediocre about strengthening systems.

“Community strengthening is the foundation upon which every health intervention either collapses or stands,” she said.

She added, “If there is pandemic outbreak of say cholera, the families and households share among themselves, and it is realised at community and nationally there is an outbreak. Community is a bridge between policy and the people,” said Murenga.

Additionally, malaria coordination representative Eva Muthuuri acknowledged that donor transitions have generated anxiety among community organisations and health stakeholders.

However, she expressed optimism that stronger community systems could help bridge the gap by enhancing advocacy, resource mobilisation and engagement with government financing mechanisms.

"Communities continue to need care now more than ever. The voice of the people remains powerful. When communities organise themselves and speak with one voice, they are better positioned to influence financing decisions and mobilise resources," she said.

Muthuuri emphasised that community systems strengthening provides the platform through which communities can effectively engage governments and development partners.

"Donors alone cannot solve these challenges. Communities must be organised and empowered to advocate for their needs. That is the essence of community systems strengthening," she said.