Distinguished delegates, global leaders, colleagues, and friends,
I am deeply honoured to address this important Summit, convened by the Sustainable Development Council under the Special Consultative Status with the United Nations ECOSOC. I express my sincere appreciation for the invitation extended to me and to the Kenya Medical Association (KMA), the voice of over 15,000 medical doctors and specialists in Kenya. KMA’s twin mission is welfare of its members and advocating for the highest quality of healthcare for Kenyans.
This Summit gathers us — leaders, policymakers, practitioners, researchers, civil society and youth—to reflect on the future of health systems and chart pathways toward Universal Health Coverage and sustainable well-being. It is a moment to imagine what healthcare can be when we put the human being — not the bureaucracy, not the politics — at the centre.
1. Sustainable Healthcare Begins With the Human Being
Sustainable healthcare requires that we view people not as statistics, not as burdens on a system, but as consumers of care, bearers of dignity, and partners in well-being.A health system that fails to see the human being cannot be sustainable.
We must build systems that:
• Prevent disease before it strikes
• Empower communities with knowledge
• Address social and economic determinants of health
• Protect the vulnerable
• And promote human flourishing
At KMA, this human-centered approach guides every policy, every advocacy effort, and every partnership we pursue.
2. Peace as a Prerequisite for Sustainable Health
Sustainable health cannot exist where conflict thrives. Wars destroy hospitals, scatter health workers, fuel poverty, and reverse decades of development. As medical professionals, we condemn all forms of conflict and violence.
Kenya’s medical fraternity advocates for:
Dialogue over division
• Peace over provocation
• Unity over exclusion
Without peace, UHC remains an illusion.
3. Promoting Sporting Activities and Social Cohesion
Sport is not just recreation—it is preventive medicine, a builder of communities, and a promoter of mental well-being.
KMA supports initiatives that bring people together through:
• Community sports
• Youth competitions
• Wellness campaigns
• Mental health engagement
A healthy society is one that finds unity in its shared humanity.
4. Advancing the WMA President’s Agenda: Prevention, Primary Health Care, Collaboration, Mentorship
Dr Jacqueline Kitulu was on October 10th 2025 installed as the President of the World Medical Association (WMA). KMA is proud to have nominated her to that role. We proudly align with the her agenda as President of the World Medical Association, especially in:
a) Strengthening disease prevention
Prevention is the most affordable, equitable, and sustainable pathway to health.
b) Improving Primary Health Care (PHC)
PHC is the bedrock of UHC. It is where sustainability is built, one household at a time.
c) Collaboration among National Medical Associations
Healthcare challenges know no borders; solutions should not either.
d) Mentorship and nurturing the next generation
A sustainable health system must invest in young doctors, nurses, and scientists who will shape the future.
KMA actively champions CPD, mentorship programmes, internship support, and youth leadership within the profession.
5. Education: A Foundation for Sustainable Well-Being
History teaches us that societies that educate their populations thrive. Education is the bridge between poverty and opportunity, between disease and resilience.
KMA advocates for strengthening:
• Health education in schools
• Public literacy on wellness
• Continuous professional development
• Research and medical training institutions
An educated society is a healthier society.
6. Preventing Extractive Economic Practices
Health systems crumble when economies are exploited—whether by corrupt local actors or external forces.
KMA calls for:
• Ethical governance
• Transparent resource management
• Protection of national assets
• Economic policies that put citizens first
A country cannot sustain good health when its wealth is extracted instead of invested in its people.
7. Intergenerational Justice: Ensuring Today’s Decisions Do Not Punish Tomorrow’s Generations
The sustainability agenda requires that the choices we make today:
• Do not leave our children in debt
• Do not degrade the environment
• Do not undermine future access to healthcare
KMA advocates for policies that preserve—not mortgage—the future.
8. Addressing Unjust Global Monetary Policies
Many developing countries face:
• Unfair loan conditions
• Punitive interest rates
• Currency vulnerabilities
• Debt burdens that undermine social spending
These global financial structures directly weaken health systems.
KMA calls for reforms that allow nations to invest in people rather than debt repayment.
UHC cannot succeed where debt consumes more resources than health.
9. Health Financing: Governments Must Prioritize Well-Being
Health is often the first sector to be underfunded and the last to be reformed.
But no nation can develop if its people are unwell.
KMA advocates for:
• Increased national and county health budgets
• Equitable resource distribution
• Proper management of social health insurance
• Strengthened primary care facilities
• Fair remuneration of health workers
Healthy citizens are the most valuable national resource.
10. Addressing Historical Injustices
Sustainable health demands acknowledging how past injustices—colonial, political, cultural, and economic—shape today’s disparities.
KMA supports:
• Equity-based health planning
• Rights-based approaches
• Inclusion of marginalized communities
• Culturally informed care
Healing requires confronting history.
11. Promoting Culture as a Foundation for Well-Being
Our cultures hold wisdom that strengthens health:
• Traditional diets
• Community solidarity
• Respect for elders
• Indigenous knowledge systems
Cultural identity protects mental and social health.
Sustainable well-being must preserve and celebrate cultural diversity.
12. Promoting Good Politics and Ethical Leadership
Good politics is good health.
When politics is ethical, inclusive, and people-centered:
• Budgets are fair
• Health workers are protected
• Services reach all communities
• Development becomes sustainable
KMA stands for governance that uplifts rather than divides.
13. Promoting Similarities, Not Differences
We must resist the temptation to magnify divisions—tribal, religious, political, or social.
Sustainable well-being requires that we emphasize:
• Shared humanity
• Shared challenges
• Shared destiny
The health of one community affects the health of all.
Conclusion: A Shared Responsibility
As we gather here, let us commit to shaping a world where:
• Health systems are resilient
• Economies are fair
• Communities are peaceful
• Cultures are celebrated
• Young people are mentored
• And every human being is valued
On behalf of the Kenya Medical Association, I reaffirm our commitment to advancing healthcare excellence, championing UHC, and promoting sustainable well-being for all.
Thank you.
Dr. Simon Kigondu is the President of Kenya Medical Association