05/02/2026
Kenya Relief was honored to have our CEO, Melissa Hunter Cook, represent us on Capitol Hill during DC Faith Leaders Advocacy Day on April 23.
Melissa joined faith leaders invited by the and Friends of the Global Fight Against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria to share the moral and faith‑rooted case for continued U.S. partnership with the —the world’s largest partnership of public, private, and civic sectors working together to combat HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. These investments directly impact the children and families we serve in Migori, Kenya.
Throughout the day, Melissa met with Members of Congress and Senators to discuss the FY27 Global Fund appropriation and the urgent need to release previously appropriated U.S. funds already matched 2:1 by other donors. These resources are essential for sustaining progress and supporting transition agreements with low‑ and middle‑income countries, including Kenya.
She shared real stories from our healthcare clinic, school, and children’s home—reminding leaders that global health policy has a face, a name, and a family behind every statistic.
A few messages that shaped the conversations:
• 70 million lives saved by the Global Fund partnership since 2002
• The 63% decline in combined death rate from AIDS, TB, and Malaria since 2002, but since 2025 has stalled and we now expect dire figures on malaria cases and deaths in 2026 unless we act now.
• "Faith-based organizations were the megaphone of trust in the community [during the COVID-19 pandemic response]" — Dr. John Nkengasong
• With continued U.S. leadership, we can save missions of lives from the world's deadliest infectious diseases
• Funding for malaria is critical for saving the most lives immediately, particularly children under five and pregnant women.
We’re grateful for the opportunity to ensure the voices of Migori are heard in rooms where global health decisions are made.
