Category: HEALTH

  • KBL Reiterates Commitment to Uplifting Kenyan Communities as Senator Keg Celebrates 20 Years

    KBL Reiterates Commitment to Uplifting Kenyan Communities as Senator Keg Celebrates 20 Years

    Nyamila CBO members with KBL Leadership during a visit to the Water Project sponsored by KBL’s Senator Keg brand

    Kenya Breweries Limited (KBL), through its Senator Keg brand, has reiterated its commitment to making a positive impact in Kenyan communities as it celebrates two decades. Recently, KBL’s Commercial Director, Joel Kamau, led a team to visit the Nyamila Community-Based Organization (CBO) in Siaya County, a shining example of how the brand’s initiatives are transforming lives.

    The Nyamila CBO, located in the Kaluo area, was one of the winners of KBL’s Shikisha Form na Senator campaign, which supports community projects chosen by beneficiaries. The CBO owns a borehole that, with a Kshs. 1 million investment from Senator Keg, was transformed into a fully-fledged water harvesting and distribution center. Today, the initiative supplies clean water to 40 households and seven water kiosks, benefiting more than 6,000 residents.

    The impact of the project goes beyond access to clean water. Since its establishment, the water center has generated KSh 1.2 million in revenue, creating a sustainable income stream for the community.

    Speaking during the visit, Joel Kamau expressed pride in Senator Keg’s legacy of responsible consumption and community empowerment. “For 20 years, Senator Keg has been more than just an affordable beer; it has been a force for good. Our vision is to ensure that every glass of Senator enjoyed translates to better lives somewhere in Kenya. Projects like this water initiative are proof of how we are delivering on that promise,” Joel said.

    Kamau highlighted the unique value Senator Keg brings, noting that it is brewed using locally sourced sorghum. He encouraged more farmers to grow the crop, pointing out that KBL’s Kisumu brewery, built at a cost of KSh 15 billion, supports 17,000 farmers across the region.

    “By sourcing sorghum locally, we not only produce a high-quality product but also create economic opportunities for farmers. I urge those with the potential to grow sorghum to take up this opportunity, as KBL is the lead buyer of sorghum grown in Kenya,” he added.

    He emphasized that KBL’s support goes beyond beer production, with the Shikisha Form na Senator campaign funding projects that address pressing community needs such as access to clean water.

    “This initiative has already connected 40 households to clean water, and we’re committed to doing more. Our goal is to reach 200 households shortly. This will require additional resources, but together, we can achieve it,” Kamau said.

    The initiative has also improved lives by freeing residents from the time-consuming task of fetching water from distant sources, allowing them to focus on more productive activities.

    Kamau noted that this is the transformative impact KBL strives to achieve through its community partnerships.

    KBL also committed to expanding the project to connect an additional four households to the water system. Kamau expressed gratitude to the CBO leadership and the community for their dedication and partnership.

    “At KBL, we believe in action. When we commit to something, we ensure it is done. This partnership with Nyamila CBO is a testament to the power of collaboration. Together, we are building a better future, one project at a time,” he said. Since 2021, Senator Brand has actively invested to the tune of Ksh 15M in working within Kenyan communities through their CBO outreach program. This has seen the brand create long-term associations with its loyal consumers as it continues to actualize its brand purpose around enriching lives throughout all its value propositions and interactions.

  • Opinion: Can Kenya’s New Health Fund Overcome Its Challenges?

    Kenya’s healthcare system is at a crossroads.

    The recent launch of the much hyped Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), managed by the Social Health Authority (SHA), promised to usher in a new era of universal healthcare. However, this ambitious initiative has encountered formidable challenges, with many Kenyans now questioning whether SHIF can live up to its lofty goals.

    As of October 2024, over 12.7 million Kenyans had registered with SHA, and contributions are set at a minimum of Ksh 300 per month for self-employed individuals, with salaried employees contributing 2.75% of their gross salary.

    The government anticipates that SHIF will collect around Ksh 133 billion in its first year, with projections rising to Ksh 148 billion annually as it scales up.

    This revenue, more than double what was collected by the previous National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), is essential for achieving the fund’s aim: comprehensive healthcare for all Kenyans.

    Yet, despite this optimistic forecast, the transition from NHIF to SHIF has exposed a wide funding gap that has thrown healthcare facilities into a financial crisis.

    Reports indicate that healthcare providers are already owed billions in reimbursements, a debt carried over from the NHIF. This funding gap has left health facilities cash-strapped, jeopardizing service delivery and heightening the sense of instability surrounding SHIF.

    A key challenge lies in the informal sector, where many Kenyans struggle to maintain a consistent income, let alone afford health insurance premiums. Without a stable revenue stream from this population, the financial sustainability of SHIF remains uncertain. The government’s reliance on these contributions might make the fund’s projections unrealistic, given that financial constraints often prevent low-income earners from prioritizing health insurance.

    Moreover, the lack of infrastructure in rural areas continues to worsen these financial pressures. While urban centers have relatively better-equipped facilities, rural areas often lack basic medical infrastructure. Consequently, the country’s quality of healthcare remains unevenly distributed, depriving rural populations of essential services. If the government aims to make SHIF a truly national solution, it must address this infrastructure gap by investing in rural facilities and upgrading resources. The need for well-equipped clinics, medical supplies, and trained personnel in these underserved areas is urgent, as these facilities form the backbone of the public health system.

  • Governor Arati Defends Healthcare and Infrastructure Reforms Amid Criticism in Kisii County

    Governor Arati Defends Healthcare and Infrastructure Reforms Amid Criticism in Kisii County

    Amid widespread irked concerns among locals about the state of health facilities in Kisii County, Governor Simba Arati remains resolute and steadfast in dismissing these claims.

    Last week, after the ratted of the events, Governor Arati moved swiftly and implemented significant changes in the sector by leading a promotion exercise and upgrading the status of the county medics

    During the burial of former Bonchari MP Zebedeo Opore, Arati strongly defended his actions to reform the leadership of Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital against his critics.

    During the burial of former Bonchari MP, Zebedeo Opore Arati fiercely told off the critics on the steps he took to change the leadership of the Kisii Teaching and referral hospital.

    Simba told off the past reign that he will never allow any theft cases to rule over in the county.

    ‘’As long as I am the governor I will not forgive or tolerate stealing in the county, none will continue the act, I accepted criticism but I will not bow down to distraction concerning the criticism of KTRH, whoever thought he will continue stealing from the hospital, I will not allow negative painting of the hospital and I will not allow losses in the hospital and none is going to supply hot air and to get money, enough is enough.’’ Simba affirmed.

    He stated that the hospital currently has a sufficient supply of medicines, with revenue generation increasing to KES 231 million from KES 47 million per quarter since he took over the reins of power.

    Kisii County nurses initiated a strike on November 7, which had the potential to disrupt healthcare services significantly. However, the strike lasted less than 48 hours, as the union called it off after the parties reached an amicable solution.

    In the return to work formula, the county, through the Service Board shall initiate promotions and there was an agreement of Implementation of the recommendations of conciliation report dated 22nd April, 2021 as per the Union heads.

    Moses Okenge, the Kisii County Nurses Chairperson affirmed they reached the agreement.

    ‘‘As the union we agreed on re-designation of qualified Nurses in rightful job categories, there will be 75 percent of promotion of qualified Nurses, more trainings, 50-100 percentage employment of Nurses to cover for shortage of man power, also will be 80 percent adverts of Competitive jobs.’’

    Okenge said that Governor Simba he applauded the action of County nurses to call off the highly anticipated strike

    Recently in one week ago, the Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) called off the industrial strike in Nyamira county after the union successfully engaged Governor Amos Nyaribo.

    On the same note, Arati addressed the long-standing issue of the stalled Suneka airstrip project, which has faced delays for decades affirming that he is determined and will not be cowed until he builds a sports arena in area after the government’s recent announcement to decommission the Airstrip in Kisii County.

    Bonchari MP has been calling on the government to repair the airstrip as opposed to decommissioning it, a move he says will amount to a slap on Bonchari’s face.

    The Constituency Development Fund office has been planning to put up a Technical Vocational Training Centre in the Constituency, but the plans have been thwarted by inadequate land.

  • Government to map out medical facilities targeting quality under SHA

    Government to map out medical facilities targeting quality under SHA

    Health Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Deborah Barasa

    The government is working with the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) and the Kenya Health Professions Oversight Authority (KHPOA) to map out health facilities to ensure that they are manned by professionals and offer quality health services to Kenyans.

    Health Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Deborah Barasa said that they have employed a comprehensive multidisciplinary approach in assessing all health facilities across the country to look at their capacity and ability to offer quality services in efforts to ensure that Kenyans access quality healthcare under the new Social Health Authority (SHA).

    “This is an initiative to ensure that we map out all our health facilities across the country and identify where specific interventions are needed and offer the necessary support,” said the CS.

    Speaking in Nairobi on Tuesday during a media roundtable meeting, Barasa said that the last mile areas mostly in the far-flung and marginalized regions are often neglected and the mapping is aimed at ensuring that they fulfill the government mandate of leaving no one behind.

    “We have come up with interventions to ensure that drugs are supplied to the last mile that is the primary health care facilities and by December we will have medication at these centers and patients will be able to access affordable and quality medicines,” said Dr Barasa.

    The CS said that the flagging off for the medicines distribution will happen very soon as she assured that they are working to ensure that the primary health care at the Level 2 and 3 hospitals are fully functional since these are the first contact with the health system.

    “We are working at capacity building the Primary Health Care (PHC) centers to ensure that they have the right medication and capacity to support the primary health care provision,” said the CS.

    The CS said that the media plays a critical role in ensuring the success of SHA by creating awareness and informing people of the need to register.

    “So far we have had over 13 million people register for SHA and we are urging the media to continue enlightening Kenyans on its benefit and showing success stories of people who have benefitted from SHA so that more can register and start benefiting,” said Dr. Barasa.

    Barasa added that they have been meeting with support groups representing kidney patients undergoing dialysis and cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy to understand their experience and look for ways to work together and ensure the success of SHA.

    SHA Head of Benefits Design Dr Samson Kuhora said that they are employing Proxy Means Testing (PMT) a model that uses the economic factors within a household to estimate how much they are earning and then calculate the SHA premium of 2.75 percent of the household income for the informal or unemployed people.

    Dr Kuhora said that the PMT is used to establish income levels for households and it is meant to bring about equity adding that there is a platform that allows a household to appeal if they feel there are issues with the calculations on their required payments.

    “This means testing tool drives the key concept of SHA which is the ability to pay where a household which can generate more income contributes more into the pool,” explained Dr Kuhora.

    He highlighted that they have been doing daily monitoring of the data that is available and so far, the estimated average household premium per month is Sh543 which translates to Sh6,516 per year,” he said.

    Dr Kuhora said that they are aware that there are Kenyans who might not be able to afford this as a lump sum and that is why there are stop-gap initiatives that include monthly contributions for households which are meant to assist families that cannot pay yearly.

    “We are aware that some Kenyans have seasonal incomes like farmers and we have been engaging the co-operatives as aggregators so that they can pay for their members and then they recover the money over time from sales of produce,” said Dr Kuhora.

  • Okenyuri concerned on the safety of Polio Vaccines administered in Kenya

    Okenyuri concerned on the safety of Polio Vaccines administered in Kenya

    UDA nominated Senator Esther Okenyuri

    The vibrant UDA nominated Senator Esther Okenyuri is seeking a Statement from the Committee on Health regarding the safety, efficacy and side effects of polio vaccines administered in Kenya.

    In the Statement tabled, Okenyuri sought for a detailed report on the current status of the polio vaccination campaign across the country, specifying the number of children vaccinated in county and the particulars of the vaccines administered.

    She has further tasked the committee to provide detailed information on the adverse effects, if any, of the polio vaccines administered recently by the Ministry of Health.

    Okenyuri also seeks to know the strategies applied to ensure that vaccine safety risks are identified and quantified against potential benefits and outline measures the government is taking to prevent the emergence of preventable diseases in light of the rising vaccine hesitancy.

    Notably she demands the ministry to provide relevant information regarding existing donor financing arrangements between the Ministry of Health and development partners, particularly on the provision of vaccines and other essential medical commodities.

  • Staying Safe Between the Sheets – Spotlight on Sexual Health

    Staying Safe Between the Sheets – Spotlight on Sexual Health

    By OMBOKI MONAYO

    Have you had your HIV test this year yet? If not, take time this week to get tested. Regular testing for STIs is also crucial. Consider discussing STI testing with your partner(s) before engaging in sexual activity to ensure transparency and safety.

    Open and honest communication with your partner(s) about sexual health, STI status, and birth control options is vital for fostering a healthy sexual relationship. Additionally, getting vaccinated against STIs, such as HPV, hepatitis B, and herpes, is recommended by healthcare providers and can provide important protection.

    Sexual health encompasses not only physical well-being but also emotional, mental, and social wellness concerning sexuality. It is far more than just the absence of disease or dysfunction. Many people suffer when they lack bodily autonomy, control over their reproductive choices, or the freedom to experience safe and consensual sexual relationships. Access to contraception and the necessary information to make informed decisions about sexual health is an essential aspect of achieving overall sexual well-being.

    In Kenya, the percentage of married women using modern contraceptives has steadily increased over time, from 32% in 2003 to 57% in 2022. Over the same period, the unmet need for family planning declined from 27% to 14% (KDHS 2022).

    Contraceptive uptake is measured using the Modern Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (mCPR), which is the percentage of WRA who are using, or whose partners are using modern contraceptives. The country aims to achieve 64% mCPR by 2030.

    While remarkable strides have been made in providing access to safe contraception methods, there remains a significant gap in empowering the population with the necessary information to enable individuals to make informed decisions about sexual activity.

    In a September 4 press release marking World Sexual Health Day, Marie Stopes Kenya (MSK) identified the lack of Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) as a critical issue that continues to leave many young people vulnerable. MSK emphasized the pressing challenges faced in Kenya, particularly the absence of comprehensive sexuality education for adolescents and young people.

    “This education gap has resulted in high rates of unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortions, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among adolescents,” read the statement.
    In light of these challenges, MSK has called on the Kenyan government to prioritize the funding of reproductive health, particularly family planning, stressing that this is not only a health concern but also a matter of human rights and social justice.

    “Investing in sexual and reproductive health is essential for empowering individuals to make informed choices about their health and their futures,” MSK. The organization highlighted the societal benefits of ensuring access to family planning services, explaining that it can contribute significantly to the well-being of the broader community.

    Furthermore, MSK is urging for the adoption of an inclusive approach to advancing Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR). This approach is captured in the Family Reproductive Healthcare Bill of 2023 and seeks to address all aspects of sexual and reproductive health to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to achieve the highest possible standard of sexual well-being. Sexual health, the organization added, is fundamental to achieving overall health, gender equality, and social and economic development.

    MSK stressed the importance of recognizing, respecting, and protecting sexual health for all. By working together, it believes that a society can be built where every individual can reach the best possible standard of sexual and reproductive health and well-being.

    In line with safeguarding sexual health which includes reducing the risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unintended pregnancies, here is some practical advice on maintaining your sexual well-being.

    You can adopt several key practices that prioritize your sexual health and well-being while also protecting your partner. First and foremost, it is essential to use condoms consistently and correctly every time you engage in sexual activity, whether it be oral, anal, or vaginal sex.

    Using water-based lubricants during sex can help reduce the risk of condom breakage and enhance pleasure. It is also advisable to avoid sharing sex toys. If sharing is unavoidable, use condoms on the toys and ensure they are cleaned thoroughly before and after use. Limiting the number of sexual partners and being aware of their sexual history and practices can further minimize risk.

    Moreover, it is important to avoid alcohol and drug use before and during sexual activity, as these substances can impair judgment and lead to risky behaviors. Practicing self-care by getting enough sleep, maintaining a healthy diet, and managing stress can also contribute positively to sexual health and overall well-being. Finally, it is crucial to seek medical attention promptly if you experience any STI symptoms or have had unprotected sex with a partner whose STI status is unknown.

    By adhering to these practices, you can maintain and protect your sexual health, contribute to your overall well-being, and ensure a safer, healthier society for all.

  • Irungu Nyakera Foundation to Host Free Mega Medical Camp in Murang’a, Offering Health Screenings

    Irungu Nyakera Foundation to Host Free Mega Medical Camp in Murang’a, Offering Health Screenings

    The Irungu Nyakera Foundation has announced the organization of a Free Mega Medical Camp set to take place on Saturday, 12th October 2024 at Kiriaini Rurii Stadium, Murang’a. The camp will provide an array of medical services, including free cataract surgeries, health screenings, consultations, and other essential healthcare services at no cost to attendees.

    In a statement seen by the Kenyaleo.co.ke stated that ‘’In line with our commitment to ensuring quality healthcare for all, we’ll be offering a wide range of medical services, including FREE CATARACT SURGERIES, health screenings, consultations, and more, ALL AT NO COST TO YOU.’’

    He further urged Murang’a residents to take full advantage of this opportunity. ‘’This is a golden opportunity for you and your loved ones to prioritize your health. Let’s take this step together toward a healthier MURANG’A. Don’t miss out.’’

    Nyakera also called on the community to help spread the word to ensure that as many people as possible can benefit from these life-changing services.

    ‘’Spread the word and help us reach everyone who needs these life-changing services.’’ he urged.

    In a previous initiative, Nyakera shared his experience at Kinoo Primary School in Maragua, where he joined parents, teachers, and students during a school meeting.

    ‘’I had the privilege of joining parents, teachers, and students at Kinoo Primary School in Maragua for their Parents’ Meeting.’’

    Nyakera added, ‘’We emphasized the importance of education as a powerful equalizer and donated essential learning materials, including textbooks and revision resources. Additionally, we were honored to have a doctor present who shared valuable Health and Nutrition advice with the community.’’

    The upcoming medical camp represents yet another effort by the Irungu Nyakera Foundation to improve the lives of Murang’a residents, focusing on both health and education.

  • Universal Child Benefit: A Lifeline for Kenyan Families

    Universal Child Benefit: A Lifeline for Kenyan Families

    By OMBOKI MONAYO

    Nairobi, Kenya – In the arid landscapes of Kenya’s Kajiado South County, the scars of drought still linger. Lucy, a local resident, recalls the harrowing experiences of 2022 when her community faced severe food shortages and livestock losses. “It was a struggle to survive,” she shares. “We were barely able to feed our families.”
    Moses Partoti, another resident, echoes Lucy’s sentiments. “Livestock prices plummeted during the drought,” he remembers. “A goat could barely fetch Kes500.”

    For Lucy and Moses, and countless others in Kajiado, Kisumu, Embu, and Narok Counties, relief came in the form of the Universal Child Benefit (UCB) program, implemented by Save the Children. Coming on the tail end of the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown that had also interfered with many families’ livelihoods, the program provided families with a monthly stipend of Ksh800, offering a vital lifeline during difficult times.

    Beyond the financial assistance, the UCB program has been instrumental in empowering parents with knowledge and skills to nurture their children’s growth and well-being. “We were taught about positive parenting and how our wives could properly breastfeed the babies,” explains Moses Partoti. This shift in thinking has led to a significant reduction in malnutrition cases within his community.

    Achieng, a mother of four from Kisumu, is another beneficiary of the program. “My child used to fall sick frequently,” she recalls. “The UCB helped me buy nutritious foods like omena, ugali, and porridge. He is now much healthier and growing up into a normal, active, and happy boy.”

    Mukami, a mother of a child with a disability, is also grateful for the UCB program. “He now enjoys meals of rice, beans, milk, and other foods that he can easily chew and digest,” she says.

    The UCB program extends beyond nutrition, encompassing a holistic approach to child care. It encourages families to diversify their diets by growing fruits and vegetables in kitchen gardens, further improving nutrition and reducing cases of malnutrition, diarrhea, stunting, and pneumonia.

    The program’s impact goes beyond individual families. Mothers have been organized into Mother-to-Mother Support Groups, where they pool their savings and support each other. “We started a merry-go-round with a contribution requirement of Kes200 for each member,” explains Moses. “This financial empowerment has enabled women to purchase essential household items and food.”

    Beatrice Otieno, Program Development, Quality and Impact Director at Save the Children, emphasizes the program’s focus on promoting positive childcare practices. ”

    UCB addresses issues such as neglect and aims to assist families during critical developmental stages,” she says.
    Positive parenting was also a key component of the program. Alice, an Early Childhood Development (ECD) teacher in Kajiado, recalls how she helped a student who was withdrawn and distracted due to parental conflict. By intervening and supporting the family, Alice ensured the child returned to a stable environment.

    Recognizing the program’s success, Save the Children is advocating for its expansion across Kenya. “We hope to engage the counties through the Council of Governors to make the UCB program universal and sustainable,” says counseling psychologist Viellinah Gitau.

    The government is also taking steps to strengthen social protection programs. Richard Obiga, Senior Program Officer at the National Social Protection Secretariat of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Kenya, says the government has been running similar programs including the Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC), Hunger Safety Net Program (HSNP), the Universal Child Benefit (UCB), and the Older Persons’ Cash Transfer (OPCT). He confirms that the UCB program results have been factored into proposals contained in the Social Protection Bill that is soon set to be presented in Parliament.

    “We are in the final stages of refining the Bill including making the necessary corrections that were made when we took it to the Attorney General’s office. We hope that the Bill will become law so that we can aggressively source for both government and partner funding to further protect vulnerable sections of the population,” says the program officer.

    While Kenya has made significant strides in reducing child mortality, with the under-five mortality rate decreasing from 96 per 1,000 live births in 1993 to 41 in 2022, the rates remain higher than the global average of 18 per 1,000 live births. This underscores the continued need for programs like the UCB to empower communities and ensure that children not only survive but thrive, laying the foundation for a safer, healthier future.

    Richard Obiga, Senior Program Officer at the National Social Protection Secretariat of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Kenya, confirms that the UCB program results have been factored into proposals contained in the Social Protection Bill that is soon set to be presented in Parliament..

    Program Development, Quality and Impact Director at Save the Children, speaks at a recent media workshop.

    Lucy, a Kajiado County resident, showcases some of the eggs that the chickens in her brood have laid. She used some of the funds from the UCB to start the chicken rearing project.

    Save the Children Counselling psychologist Viellina Gitau speaks to the media at a workshop hosted by Save the Children on August 9, 2024. She advocates for positive parenting in Kajiado County where she works with local communities.

  • Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya strongly Oppose Amendment Bill 2024 on Narcotic and Psychotropic,

    Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya strongly Oppose Amendment Bill 2024 on Narcotic and Psychotropic,

    PSK members address the press

    Members of the Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya (PSK) Yesterday converged in Tana Athi branch and discussed bills that will affect the pharmacy practice, including narcotic and a psychotropic bill.

    PSK also addressed the issue of the veterinary bill and talked about importation of saline water which they observed can be manufactured locally in Kenya and create employment for many and improve the economy. These issues are affecting the sector and, of course, cumulatively affecting society and the community at large.

    The Amendment Bill 2024, aims to amend the existing legislation in Kenya to exempt cathinium and cathene, substances which are found in mirror crop, the one known as catha edulis, from being classified as psychotropic substances.

     

    “The rationale behind this amendment is to enhance the economic prospects of the miraa industry, which is a significant source of the livelihood of many Kenyans.
    The bill argues that the classification of these substances as psychotropic by the National Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse,
    which is NACADA, negatively impacts the market for Miram, despite the government efforts to boost the sector.
    However, the Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya strongly opposes this amendment
    and we argue that it contradicts both the Kenyan constitution and the international conventions to which Kenya is a party.
    We emphasize the health risk associated with cathinone and cathin, which are internationally recognized as psychotropic substances, and that can negatively affect mental health.
    Additionally, we wish to highlight that removing these substances is from the list of the controlled substances
    could lead to increased abuse and health-related issues are potentially necessitating more government spending on the president’s spending on the public interest. So we wish to point out that, as stated in Article 43 of the Kenyan constitution, this should take precedence over any economic interest. We would like to question that the deregulating of cathinone and cathin might lead to an influx of both natural and synthetic derivatives, complicating the enforcement of public health efforts. We hereby also assert that international markets access for Miram would require addressing these issues at the UN level rather than through unilateral legislative changes.” Said, Dr. James Maina Chairman Tana Athi Branch.

    PSK, or Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya members, are actively involved in various regulatory bodies, including the Ministry of Health, the county governments, and the Pharmacy and Poisons Board.

    Dr. James Maina further Observed that, Miraa and Muguka brings profit to the people from the mount region and being the Pharmacist know well that deregulating and removal of those drugs can lead to a negative health impact to the society.
    The Amendment Bill (Vet Bill) on drugs Miraa and Muguka should be removed so that we remain with the current Bill. He also added,
    If the Bill goes through, many things will not be normal. Things need to be done scientifically in order to follow the World Health Organisation Standards.

    The Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya (PSK) is a representative organization that was formed to enable Pharmacists to use their professional expertise in the care of patients. Established in 1964, PSK has its roots in the Pharmaceutical Society of East Africa, which was registered in 1950. Since its
    formation, PSK has continued to promote a common standard for professional conduct and a code of ethics for its members and advocate for the welfare of pharmacists.

    The Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya is mandated to:
    1. Create and maintain a standard for professional conduct and a code of ethics.
    2. To foster a high standard of control over the quality and distribution of medicines and other pharmaceutical products.
    3. To promote the role of pharmacists as integral members of the healthcare team to ensure rational drug use. In line with our mandate, please see the attached submissions with regard to the Veterinary Practice and Veterinary Medicines Bill.

    The Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya advocates for quality pharmaceutical care and also plays a significant role in shaping pharmaceutical legislation and policies.

     

  • LVCT Health Raises Awareness on Needs for the Marginalized and Vulnerable members of the Society

    LVCT Health Raises Awareness on Needs for the Marginalized and Vulnerable members of the Society

    LVCT Health Stakeholders group photo in Sarova Panafric Hotel Nairobi.

    LVCT Health, which advocates for equitable health for everyone and ensures accountability in urban health, conducted a workshop and exhibition dubbed “ARISE”, that showcased the experiences of the Persons with Disability, marginalized and vulnerable members of the community, specifically from informal sectors.

    Among the issues discussed included; raising the voices of the vulnerable and marginalized, responding to mental health, teenage pregnancy, and building and improving infrastructure used by the vulnerable and marginalized members of the community.

    The ARISE close out event is one of the kind with thought-provoking images and stories highlighting points of marginalization, vulnerability, and priorities.
    Raising the voices of the vulnerable and marginalized, Persons with the Disability especially in the informal settlements. The research study shows the need for good infrastructure in the informal settlements. The research was conducted since 2019.

    The workshop also included the journeys of people with disabilities, giving special attention to specifically the challenges they face. Burden of caring for themselves and their dependents such as their children, access to and affordability of health care services , as well as the experiences of discrimination and social stigma.

    “We have been working with the vulnerable members of society even in giving them bursaries. It is good for ARISE presence in informal sectors like Viwandani for the benefit of the communities.
    There is a need for leaders to engage with their people to know their needs regularly.” Said Aron Kang’ara mca viwandani.

    Photo Exhibit showing experience of Marginalised and Vulnerable in the Community.

    LVCT Health ensures the vulnerable and most marginalized members of the society, including the young people, make informed choices for healthy lives supported by research and health systems.
    It has also urged the policy actors to take up measures of ensuring the vulnerable and marginalized are involved.

    “We conducted research from 2019 finding out who are vulnerable in the urban setting.We found out that, the elderly people, Persons witht disability and the teenage with pregnancy were more affected.
    My call to the government and non-governmental organization is to look into the needs of the vulnerable and marginalized when giving out resources.
    The project was funded by UK research and innovation, and it is now coming to an end. There is a need to focus on this group. Programs implemented by countries and administration should focus on the research we have done.” Said Dr. Lillian Otiso Executive Director LVCT Health.

    The information was collected using Photovoice, a participatory research approach, as part of work undertaken by the ARISE consortium.
    Photovoice participants were identified with the support of Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) who had a deep understanding of the Korogocho and Viwandani communities.