Doha, Qatar – [6th December, 2025] – In a move set to redefine urban health standards in East Africa, Amref Health Africa today sealed a landmark partnership with the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD). The initiative targets the heart of Kenya’s poverty crisis: the densely populated and growing informal settlements of Nairobi and Nakuru Counties.
Running until 2027, this collaboration is a targeted intervention on the “triple burden of disease,” promising to transform the health and future of 225,000 dwellers, prioritizing vulnerable women, girls, and children trapped in a cycle of poverty and preventable illness.
Addressing Kenya’s “Triple Burden of Disease”
The project addresses a health emergency where basic human dignity is under threat:
- The disease burden: Over 50% of hospital admissions are driven by lifestyle NCDs, while up to 70% of infectious diseases in informal settlements are the direct result of lack of safe water and poor sanitation conditions.
- A stolen future: High rates of stunting (up to 27.9%) and anaemia are crippling the mental and physical development of children and women, fuelling generational poverty.
- Incapacitated health frontlines: Health facilities are under-equipped and understaffed, with a lack of basic diagnostic tools and a critical shortage of qualified health workers, making quality care a luxury the underprivileged cannot afford.
The Amref-QFFD alliance leverages the Kenyan government’s Primary Health Care (PHC) framework to address these long-standing systemic failures.
The three–point strategic solutions: Building resilient urban health
- Health system upgrade & rapid response: we are not just renovating; we are upgrading and equipping key health facilities with essential diagnostic power. Amref’s innovative ‘one-stop’ mobile clinic model will be deployed into the heart of the informal settlements, bringing screening, immunization, and NCD management right to the doorstep
- Improve access to safe water and sanitation: the project will implement climate-smart water systems in health facilities and communities. This will also include Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) and building safe, dignified, gender-segregated toilets.
- Building a competent, enabled health workforce: We are tackling the workforce shortage head-on. The partnership will recruit and deploy new staff while dramatically scaling up the skills of over 600 frontline health workers, community health promoters, and pharmacists through state-of-the-art digital training and mentorship
The vision of UHC: A shared commitment
Dr Meshack Ndirangu (Country Director, Amref Health Africa in Kenya): ” This partnership with the Qatar Fund for Development is a crucial catalyst for urban health resilience in Kenya. By focusing on primary healthcare, WASH, and workforce capacity, we are not just treating illness—we are transforming health outcomes and supporting Kenya’s path to Universal Health Coverage, ensuring that no one is left behind in Nairobi and Nakuru’s informal settlements.”
Mr. Fahad Hamad Al-Sulaiti, Director General of QFFD stated, “Quality healthcare is a fundamental human right and the foundation of resilient communities. Through our partnership with Amref Health Africa, we are investing in practical, people-centered solutions that strengthen primary healthcare, expand access to safe water and sanitation, and empower frontline health workers in Nairobi and Nakuru. This initiative reflects Qatar’s commitment to advancing equitable, inclusive development and supporting countries in building sustainable health systems that leave no one behind”
About Amref Health Africa
Amref Health Africa, Amref Health Africa is the largest African-led international health and development organisation, transforming the lives of more than 20 million people each year across 30+ countries through various innovations in health. Headquartered in Kenya, Amref has spent 68 years creating a lasting health change in partnership with governments and communities. It’s the Kenya Country Office, the organisation’s largest programme, drives transformative PHC priorities through people-centred health systems and a focus on the social determinants of health. Amref’s work is supported by subsidiaries, including Amref Flying Doctors and the Amref International University (AMIU)
About Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD)
Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) is the State of Qatar’s official provider for international development and humanitarian assistance. Guided by Qatar’s National Vision 2030 and the State’s International Cooperation Strategy, and aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, QFFD leads transformative change by translating Qatar’s commitment to global solidarity into action, advancing progress toward a just, sustainable, and inclusive world through innovative finance, strategic programs, and high-impact partnerships.
Since its establishment, QFFD has disbursed over $7 billion across more than 100 countries, focusing on vital sectors such as education, health, economic empowerment, and humanitarian assistance, while also addressing cross-cutting priorities including climate resilience, food security, sustainable infrastructure and other.
Leveraging impact investments and diversified financing toolkit, including concessional loans, guarantees, grants, and blended finance, QFFD delivers scalable solutions that empower communities, strengthen resilience, and foster inclusive growth, while addressing both national priorities and global development challenges.
Media Contact:
Dr. Martin Muchangi Director, Population Health and Environment Amref Health Africa; [email protected]
Maryam Al-Hail, Media Communications Officer, Qatar Fund for Development