Kenyaleo.co.ke

Category: HEALTH

  • 700 Inmates Receive Medical Check-Ups

    700 Inmates Receive Medical Check-Ups

    Inmates at the Narok GK Prison received medical check-ups and sanitary donations, in an event organized by the county Gender Technical Working group, as the world commemorates International Day of Human Rights.

    Narok GK Prison-In-Charge, Benson Lomeri, said the over 700 inmates received medical check-ups from medics drawn from Narok County Referral Hospital and Narok Cottage Hospital in Narok town.

    “Among the diseases tested were high blood pressure, diabetes and HIV/Aids. They were also given deworming tablets,” said the Prison-In-Charge.

    Lomeri said the inmates were taken through guidance and counselling sessions, where the professional counsellors took time with individual inmates to encourage them.

    “Our clients who have issues that have been disturbing them have received mentorship. They had a rare time of sitting with the medics to ask any question of their choice,” he said.

    The Officer-In-Charge said human dignity at the prison is key, as the wardens ensure that their clients’ rights, are well treated in line with the policy in place.

    “We ensure that the inmates eat a balanced diet, live in a clean environment and that they are always clean, so that they too can feel part of the society,” said Lomeri.

    Narok Central Assistant County Commissioner, Abdi Shakur Mohamed, said every human being is entitled to good life regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, birth, property or other status.

    “We are glad we are here to celebrate this important day with you. From your presentation I have seen that most of you are talented and are building their career while in prison,” he said.

    Narok County Director of Gender, Agnes Ngeno, said they choose to commemorate the day with prisoners in conclusion of the 16 days of activism against Gender-Based Violence as many inmates are culprits of defilement, rape or child marriage.

    This year’s Human Rights Day theme is, ‘Promote safe and equal rights for all human beings regardless of their status in society.

  • Over 100 civil society organizations gathered to dismiss 10 yrs GMOs ban

    Over 100 civil society organizations gathered representing smallholder farmers, pastoralists, fisherfolk, consumer networks, faith groups, and indigenous seed savers from Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania to reiterate our reservations regarding the apparent push to commercialize Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in the East African region.

    The civil societies concern particularly is informed by the recent move by the government of Kenya to introduce GMOs in the region through the lifting of a 10-year ban on the importation of genetically modified products despite the many uncertainties on the socio-economic, environmental, food sovereignty, safety, trade and health impacts that GMOs pose.

    The groups are now unanimously reaffirming the remarkable value of farmer-managed seed systems, indigenous seed, and agroecological food systems in assuring food security, community nutrition, and resilience as well as in the maintenance of a common heritage that connects the past, present, and future generations.

    This joint call comes in the wake of a tenacious push to commercialize Genetically Modified Organisms into the region with Kenya being used as the entry point to the East African region.

    As representatives of small-scale farmers in the East African Community, now they’ve called upon the Kenyan government and other African governments to tread carefully before embracing Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), particularly in food and agriculture as the effects are irreversible.

    Among inclusion in these is the loss of rich biodiversity through crops, animal contamination, total dependence on seed and synthetic fertilizers from a few multinational companies and multiple possible health risks, and an eminent trade loss of our organic produce to the EU market and other international markets.

    GMO commercialization in the region threatens the rights and livelihoods of smallholder farming and consumers at large through cheap and subsidized GMO imports. With Kenya being strategic in the East African Community, we anticipate a ripple effect in both Tanzania and Uganda and other EAC Partner States.

    The Civil societies now demand that the EAC governments defend and support the rich diversity of indigenous seed and food regimes, by resisting the growing continental push by the private seed industry, especially in sub-Saharan Africa to restructure and ‘commercially take over our seed and food systems.

    Further, the societies indicate that, Under what is seen as a semblance of a failed ‘Green Revolution’ narrative, being orchestrated through numerous private and public, national and regional legislative interventions to popularize the commercial seed regime, it is now apparent that the survival of the centuries-old Farmer Managed Seed Systems (FMSS) which have supported food production systems amongst our communities in Africa for hundreds of years stand threatened.

    The group has pledged to stand as a lobby group to warn that, if not reversed, the trend presents the untold potential to derail the attainment of farmers’ seed sovereignty, region’s food sovereignty, and resilience of smallholder and rural communities to climate shocks.

    In Kenya, the national seed policy 2010 recognizes two seed systems; formal and informal. Even though the informal sector supplies 80% of planting the seed to 75% of the farming community, the country’s seed laws and regulations neither recognize nor support the informal seed sector. This is a contradiction of Section Il(3)b of the Kenyan Constitution which recognizes the protection of indigenous seeds.

    By large, Kenya Seed laws emphasize organized seed production systems that assure quality to the consumer as opposed to non-controlled seed production and the old culture of seed saving and sharing. These laws promote the commercialization of improved plant varieties in the seed sector through seed certification of released varieties. Further, the Kenyan Seed and Plant Varieties Act allow breeders to register and secure Plant Breeders’ Rights based on UPC)V 91 Convention if they discover and develop any new variety.

    In Tanzania, the Seed Act of 2003 does not recognize farmer-managed seed and it is a criminal offense to trade seed that is not certified. The National Agricultural Census of 2019/2020 indicated that despite the government’s efforts to promote the use of improved seeds, more than 76% of the total cultivated area (13,8 million hectares) was planted with farm-saved seeds.

    On the other hand, the National seed policy of Uganda (2016), recognizes both the formal and informal sectors and the crucial role played by the informal sector to supply over 75% of seed to the farmers. The policy provides an avenue for farmers to engage in the seed business and introduced Quality Declared Seed (QDS) as a new seed class. Guidelines for QDS were also developed and are currently in operation. Community Gene Banks are also provided for to support community efforts to sustainably manage agro-biodiversity.

    Genetic resources including indigenous plants are utilized by breeders with minimal benefits to the farmers responsible for conserving those genetic resources for generations.

    Policies are being modeled to promote commercial seeds through the adoption of universally accepted seed development criteria of variety release, quality control, and certification, seed production, seed distribution, and marketing.

    These standards indirectly lower the amount of genetically diverse seed available to smallholder farmers and consequently threaten agrobiodiversity and food security.

    Indigenous traditional knowledge and innovations are vital for the sustainability of agrobiodiversity. However, the continuity across generations is being eroded.

    The BIBA director Anne Maina has urged that Smallholder farmers not follow these sequencing in their seed and food production, they have developed their practices and customs for seed distribution among their networks and communities based on their rich bio-cultural diversity. This has no benefit of the official recognition of the law and is termed an “informal seed system”, whereas it deserves its own legal regime.

    Genetically Modified Organisms in Africa cannot end hunger, malnutrition, and poverty in the continent. South Africa despite the massive acceptance of GM crops, this year (2022) is reported to have 14.4 million people faced with food shortage.

    Globally, and elsewhere in the continent, we are witnessing an impressive shift and extensive calls for a rapid reorientation of the agricultural and food systems, towards agrobiodiversity.

    Finally, the groups have therefore demanded and recommends the following;

    , food security starts with food safety, we ask that the EA governments exhaust all other known safe food options before they can think of GMOs. The UN Synthesis Report (IAASTD) clearly stated that GMOs are not a solution to chronic hunger or poverty and the EAC governments need to address the structural issues including rural development, water, storage, market linkages, and general infrastructure challenges faced by our smallholder farmers.

    i) East Africa member states must invest more in the agriculture sector to support smallholder farmers who are the majority, enhance water harvesting and litigations schemes, rural development and financing to small crop farmers, livestock keepers, forestry, and fisher folks.

    ii) East African Government should put in place a robust institutional capacity to carry out risk and food safety assessments before the introduction of GMOs and any other related questionable technologies.

    iii) That EA partner states should ensure inclusivity in the composition of National Biosafety Committees to include; representatives of civil society, independent researchers, consumer associations, academia, and the private sector.

    iv) The EA partner states in the national budget should allocate adequate funds to enable the proper functioning of the national biosafety committees.

    v) The EA government sets up a monitoring mechanism to aid in redress, should this technology cause harm to both human health and the environment (polluter pay principle).

    vi) We commend the government of the United Republic of Tanzania for the cancellation of the research on GM Transgenic Maize MON 87460 x MON 810 variety.

    vii) We commend the Ugandan president HE president Museveni for embracing the spirit of a smallholder farmer in Africa by rejecting a draconian Genetic Engineering and Regulatory Bill. We recommend that the Bill is further reviewed to protect seed and food sovereignty in Uganda.

    BIBA finally says that the Kenyan government should uphold the ban on GMO maize and consider a non-GMO food importation arrangement from neighboring countries.

    As espoused in the Kenyan Constitution 2010, the government should be at the forefront of safeguarding our local food and seed systems by embracing safe and sustainable food production methods like agro ecology including the promotion of the Farmer Managed Seed System (FMSS).

  • NCPWD in partnership with County government of Narok and other stakeholders Commemorated International Day of persons with disabilities

    NCPWD in partnership with County government of Narok and other stakeholders Commemorated International Day of persons with disabilities

    Today the National Council for Persons with Disabilities in partnership with County government of Narok and other stakeholders Commemorated International Day of persons with disabilities in Narok County at Ole Ntimama Stadium.
    The observance of the International Day for Persons with Disabilities was proclaimed in 1992 by the United Nations General Assembly resolution 47/3. Over the years, the Council in collaboration with other stakeholders has continued to ensure that the Day is celebrated annually. These celebrations are held on a rotational basis where every county is given an opportunity to host the celebrations, this year Narok County was privileged to host this important calendar day.
    The 2022 global observance to commemorate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities is around the overarching theme of innovation and transformative solutions for inclusive development, under the theme “???????????? ????????? ??? ????????? ???????????: ??? ???? ?? ?????????? ?? ??????? ?? ?????????? ??? ????????? ?????.”
    Celebrating the International Day of Persons with Disabilities propels spreading awareness of the many positive effects of integrating persons with disabilities into society. One of the biggest issues facing those with disabilities in today’s society is marginalization and exclusion. For a myriad of reasons, those with disabilities are often shut off from key aspects of society, in terms of social circles, workplaces, cultural life and more.
    This is extremely isolating and can severely affect the mental health of those being excluded. Celebrating this day therefore is very important so that it is used to emphasize the inclusion of all people in all aspects of life especially persons with disabilities.
    Some of the activities which were incorporated in today’s celebrations in Narok includes: Presentations of scholarship cheques, assorted assistive devices, tools of trade, issuance of the new generation of disability cards and other disabilities charities to persons with disabilities.
    The event was graced by Cabinet Secretary for Labour and Social Protection Hon. Florence Bore, hosted by Narok County Governor Hon. Patrick Ntutu Speakers emphasized on strengthening on discrimination policies, improving accessibility and assessing employment diversity.
    In her speech the Cabinet Secretary applauded the disability sectors in the country which are making progress in supporting persons with disabilities in accessing to talent by focusing on skills rather than stereotypes, increasing innovation in employees with diverse experiences, increasing engagement and retention of employees who now feel included, which many organizations are now showing real commitment towards inclusion.

  • KEPSA organized forum on disability bin fostering disability inclusion

    The Council today participated in a consultative meeting organized by the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) and Light for the World (LFTW). This was KEPSA’s first forum on disability and the role Kenya’s private sector can play in fostering disability inclusion.
    Executive Director Harun Hassan who was a panellist in the forum called for the private sector to shift focus on disability from a charity perspective to a rights-based view. This presents the disability demographic as an opportunity for tapping into expertise/talent, and also a blue ocean for business products and services.
    The mindset shift also calls for continuous breaking of attitudinal barriers which hinder persons with disabilities from accessing job and procurement opportunities in the private sector. Also present were Ms Flora Mutahi – KEPSA’s Chairperson, Stephen Njenga – LFTW Country Director, Mark Obuya (Federation of Kenya Employers), Justice Dr. Imaana Laibuta, Action on Disability and Development’s Fred Ouko and Hon. Isaac Mwaura.
    Mr. Hassan also participated in a disability rights workshop for law enforcement officers at Strathmore University. The workshop, organised by Orione Community Training Centre, Embassy of Chile and Strathmore Law Clinic, sensitised police officers from Kajiado County, on providing inclusive police services for persons with intellectual disabilities. The Director lauded the officers for finding time to explore how they can better handle and serve citizens with disabilities. Also in attendance was the Chilean Ambassador H.E. Maria Alejandra Guerra and Kajiado North Hon. Onesmus Nguro and Faculty Director Patrick Nzomo.
  • Nakuru Steps Up Fight Against Jigger Infestation

    Nakuru Steps Up Fight Against Jigger Infestation

    Nakuru County Government will carry out a baseline survey to determine the cause of jiggers in areas previously not affected.

    The County Public Health Officer Mr. George Gachomba stated that several Sub-Counties in the devolved unit which had never been considered jigger endemic zones were having various households affected by the vermin, which was raising alarm.

    While disputing that jiggers were a result of a curse or poverty in the county, Mr. Ga.chomba pointed out that the major cause of jigger infestation was a lack of proper hygiene.

    “We have concluded the second scientific household survey to document the prevalence, geographic distribution, and seasonality of Tungiasis infections in all the 11 Sub-Counties. Rongai and Subukia sub-counties are the worst hit by the disease. Next, we need to find out why jigger infestations are being reported in some untraditional zones,” added the Public Health Officer.

    Tungiasis is a disease caused by jiggers commonly known as sand fleas, Chigoe, or ‘funza ‘in Swahili or scientifically as Tunga penetrans that burrow into the skin of their host.

    Without quick intervention, Tungiasis leads to a jigger infestation. Should the female die in the skin of its host, a secondary infection will result. This infection, if left untreated, could lead to tetanus, gangrene, and even loss of the affected toe.

    Records from the Ministry of Health estimate that about 2.6 million Kenyans suffer from Tungiasis resulting from jigger infestation.

    Speaking during deliberations on the findings of the survey at the county headquarters the Public Health Officer expressed concern that the majority of residents consider jigger infestation and infection by Tungiasis as a nuisance rather than a health condition.

    He added, “Tungiasis is a major health problem in Kenya; to address it requires concerted efforts from the head of the household to the government policymakers.”

    Mr. Gachomba said Governor Susan Kihika’s administration was putting in place sound health and social-economic interventions aimed at breaking the vicious cycle of poverty, ignorance, and disease in the community.

    He noted that awareness campaigns had been ramped up among affected communities in a bid to eradicate the menace.

    The health official said school children, the aged, and mentally and physically handicapped were the most affected by jiggers in the county.

    Mr. Gachomba said jigger-infested schoolchildren were unable to concentrate in class due to the irritation caused by the wounds.

    “Children have been forced to drop out of school while others have become unproductive in addition to losing their dignity and self-esteem due to infestation,” he said.

    The Tungiasis survey was held in partnership with the KEMRI Wellcome Trust whose Principal Investigator was Dr. Lynne Elson. The first phase of the study was conducted between May 2021 and July 2021, while the second one was carried out from October 2021 to October 2022.

    The official pledged to lobby his colleagues to have the county government allocate funds in its budget for fighting jiggers for the residents to remain productive.

    Dr. Elson said stigma caused many children to abandon school while their parents were isolated from communal development activities.

    “It is a sad state of affairs that those who are invaded by jiggers remain isolated because everyone laughs at them,” she said.

    Dr. Elson further noted that jigger infestations also pose the risk of transmitting other infections through the use of unsterilized equipment.  She added that sharing a single pin to extract jiggers is a common practice that exposes individuals to communicable diseases.

    She said many schoolchildren had been affected by jiggers and the situation was partly to blame for the poor academic performance in endemic regions.

    She said affected children could end up being dependents in the community because most of them dropped out of school.

    “Most of these children feel stigmatized and because of underlying poverty in their families, they drop out of school. This acts as a hindrance to the country’s collective move towards economic development,” Dr. Elson noted.

    Jiggers are normally found in the sandy terrains of warm and dry climates. They have a preference for deserts, beaches, stables, and the soil and dust found on farms or areas with livestock. They tend to hide in cracks in the floor, walls, and in crevices.

    Jiggers attack the hands, feet, knees, buttocks, and private parts. Both the female and male fleas feed on their warm-blooded hosts, although it is the female which burrows into the skin by anchoring the mouth and claws into the epidermis in a painless process, making the infestation easy to happen.

    It normally attaches to the skin of the host and especially between the toes and the toenails. Once bitten, swelling happens accompanied by severe itching and dermatitis. The resultant sores normally fill with pus and thereafter become infected.

    A tiny black dot on the skin, at the point of penetration, signals infestation by the sand flea. The black dot of the nodule is normally the posterior end of the flea sticking out. The opening gives the flea an opening for air and an exit route for feces and eggs.

    Thereafter in the coming weeks, the pest attack area enlarges into a white pea-sized nodule with well-defined borders that range from four to 10 millimeters. The infestation usually begins to irritate and itch when it is fully developed. Severe inflammation and ulceration can also occur.

    Over 100 eggs are released through the exposed opening and fall to the ground two weeks after infestation. The eggs, upon falling on the ground, hatch within four days.

    Apart from humans, jiggers also infest dogs, cats, rats, pigs, cattle, and sheep.

  • Biodiversity and Biosafety Association of Kenya issues a food alert after remarks of CS Trade, Moses Kuria

    Biodiversity and Biosafety Association of Kenya issues a food alert after remarks of CS Trade, Moses Kuria

    Stakeholders in GMOs discussion Biodiversity and Biosafety Association of Kenya (BIBA Kenya), a network of smallholder farmer groups, civil society groups, Community-based organizations (CBOs), Faith-based
    Organizations (FBO) and Consumer networks, has greatly disheartened by the Cabinet Secretary for Trade, Hon. Moses Kuria’s announcement yesterday in response to the ongoing food shortage in the country, the government is in the process of importing 10 million bags of duty-free GMO maize to feed the hunger-stricken Kenyans in the country.

    This comes in the wake of Billionaire Bill Gates’s announcement on the need to embrace genetically modified food technologies to address food insecurity in Kenya.

    BIBA has various concerns focus on risks factors associated with GMOs foods.
    1. Importation and introduction of GM maize is going to directly interfere with the rights of
    consumers, it contravenes provisions of Kenyan Constitution which makes it mandatory
    to provide information to consumers. Sovereign power belongs to the people of Kenya,
    our leaders have a fundamental responsibility to protect Kenyans and lives of Kenyans
    2. Labelling; As a farmers and consumer representative body, we ask that mechanism for
    effective approved labelling for all genetically modified food is done to ensure our
    people make choices on whether or not to consume genetically modified food.
    3. Corporatization of our food. There are socio-economic effects associated with GM seed
    including increased use of herbicides, and pesticides. The commercialization of
    agriculture and push by multinationals is aimed at facilitating agricultural sector take-
    over from local small-holder to biotech multinationals companies control with interests
    in GM seed, herbicides, synthetic fertilizers and pesticides global trade. Mexico is in the
    process of phasing out gm maize from US, why is Kenya opening up its market to be the
    dumping grounds for gm foods which have been rejected in other parts of the world?
    4. Independent research; According to the Seralini study which was published and later
    politically withdrawn from a scientific journal and later proven correct and republished,
    a GM variety fed on rats, showed development of tumors in these mammals. We
    challenge our local scientists to undertake research independently on safety of GMOs
    for objectivity and avoid corporate capture.
    5. It is needful for the government to go slow on the issue of GMO by denouncing the
    plans to import GM foods, and consider non-GMO food options available in both local,
    regional and international markets. Pope Francis recently called for change of lifestyles,
    by considering safe alternatives and rich food biodiversity to build nutritional health and
    alleviate hunger amongst our communities

    2

    Recommendations:
    We demand that
     The 10 million duty free GMO maize importation plan be immediately dropped and the
    government considers a non-GMO food importation arrangement,
     Government puts in place a robust institutional capacity to carry out risk and food
    safety assessments before introduction of GMO and any other related questionable
    technologies.
     Food security starts with food safety, we ask that the government exhausts all other
    known safe food options before they can think of GMOs. The UN Synthesis Report
    (IAASTD) clearly stated that GMO is not a solution to chronic hunger or poverty and the
    government needs to address the structural issues including water, storage, market
    linkages and general infrastructure challenges faced by our smallholder farmers.
     As espoused in our Constitution, the Government should be in the forefront in
    safeguarding our local food and seeds systems through embracing safe and sustainable
    food production methods like agroecology including promotion of Farmer Managed
    Seed System (FMSS).
     The government sets up a monitoring mechanism to aid in redress, should this
    technology cause harm to both human health and environment (polluter pay principle).

  • The new registration system for persons with disability rolled out by NCPWD by CS labour

    The new registration system for persons with disability rolled out by NCPWD by CS labour

    Labour and Social Protection Hon. Florence Bore officially launched the distribution of the first batch of about 4,000 new digital cards set to be taken to persons with disabilities who have either been newly registered or migrated to the new registration system across the counties.
    According to the NCPWD it has however announced through its CEO Hassan Harun that in this continuous production process, another subsequent batch of 6,000 will be released by next week in the month of November.
    The new CS for labour was taken through the security features of the new card and quick response (QR) code for verification purposes. The new card was produced by Delarue, which is part of the reforms effected in the registration process following the launch of the new registration system during the UN Disability Day last year 2021.
    These reforms are meant to curb fraud and cartels who have been using the old system to bring the service closer to the people and also provide accurate socio-economic data of persons with disabilities in Kenya.
    The cards are set to be distributed across the country and on arrival at the counties, the recipients of the new cards will receive communication from their respective county disability offices to pick them.
    Hon. Bore set anew record and an history by becoming the first top government official to visit National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) in its establishment as she called for an end to the perennial delays experienced by persons with disabilities as they seek registration.
    CS Bore pledged to support the Council in its efforts to ensure that all rightful persons with disabilities are identified and registered in line with the objectives of the Sustainable Development Goals and Kenya’s commitment during the 2018 Global Disability Summit on generating reliable disability disaggregated data. “??? ???????????? ???????????? ??????? 54 ??????? ??????? ???ℎ ???????????? ????? ??????, ????????? ??? ???????? ???ℎ??. ???????????? ?? ??????? ???ℎ ???????????? ?? ?ℎ??????? ???????? ??? ???????? ?? ????????? ?????????????, ???????? ??? ?????????? ????? ??? ?ℎ??,” CS Florence Bore observed.
    The CEO of the Council however stated that soon communication will be made on the phase-out of the old registration card saying that the old card remains valid and in use.
    Urge has been given that Persons with disabilities registered in the old registration system are therefore advised to visit their county disability offices and get their records updated into the new system which will  be a proof-of-life exercise on the over 500,000 registered persons with disabilities.
    CS Bore also pledged to support the Council in lobbying for the pending Persons with Disabilities Bill 2021 and other subsidiary laws and regulations as part  of her roles in the ministry. Having noted the challenges experienced by persons with disabilities as they seek to access NCPWD offices in Westlands due to the Expressway, the newly appointed CS pledged to work with her counterpart in the transport docket to have a long lasting solution effected for the marginalized group.
    During the launch several groups witnessed the ceremony present were the Council’s Board of Directors, key partners including Sightsavers, Light for The World, CBM International, National Council for Children Services, Association of the Physically Disabled of Kenya (APDK), United Disabled Persons of Kenya, and International and Delarue Team.
  • Government Unveils National Cancer Summit 2023

    Government Unveils National Cancer Summit 2023

    The Government has unveiled the publicity for the first ever National Cancer Summit 2023, scheduled for 2nd to 4th February next year, under the theme, uniting our voices and taking action.

    Speaking while he launched the Summit, Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Wafula said cancer remains a major public health concern in the country, being the third leading cause of death in Kenya.

    In a speech read on her behalf by the Acting Director, Preventive and Promotive Services Dr. Andrew Mulwa, the CS noted that the inaugural convention on cancer control will be held alongside the global commemoration of the World Cancer Day, that is held in February each year, thus enhancing our joint advocacy efforts towards improving cancer control.

    In 2020, she said, the country reported 42,000 new cancer cases and 27,000 cancer-related deaths, adding that the top five cancers are those of the breast, cervix, prostate, esophageal and non – Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

    She elaborated that the five cancers account for nearly half (48 per cent) of the cancer burden in the country regretting that nine women die every day due to cervical cancer, while nine in every 10 persons with oesophageal cancer will succumb to the disease.

    “Currently, the majority of persons diagnosed with cancer will succumb to the disease since approximately 70 per cent of cases are diagnosed in advanced stages when cure is almost impossible. Through collaborations with County Governments, we have enhanced access to cancer screening through training of primary health workers and distribution of screening equipment to health facilities across the country,” said the CS.

    Further, Wafula stated that public funded treatment services have been enhanced through the establishment of more than ten county chemotherapy centers, three regional comprehensive cancer treatment centres in Mombasa, Nakuru & Garissa and the center of excellence in oncology at the Kenyatta University Teaching Referral and Research Hospital, where latest technologies such as molecular imaging and cyber knife treatment have been made available for all Kenyans.

    Also, she noted that through the Kenya Kwanza manifesto, her administration has envisioned a chronic disease fund that will further bolster the financing for cancer interventions and stop the capital flight due to medical tourism for cancer services.

    She expressed that The National Cancer Summit 2023 will provide an appropriate platform for stakeholders from across all sectors to, among other discussions, deliberate on the recommendations arising from the Cancer Taskforce Report, review the progress made over the last 10 years in addressing the cancer burden, identify areas of learning from successful strategies and together, formulate solutions for collective action.

    “I call upon our noble partners and well-wishers to join hands with us in making the summit a resounding success. I particularly wish to recognize Roche East Africa and the City Cancer Challenge who have already committed to partner with us through sponsoring the execution of the summit and call upon other partners to come on board,” Wafula said.

    In his remarks the Inaugural National Cancer Summit 2023 Chairperson Dr. Githinji Gitahi said it is quite unfortunate that 76 people die of cancer every day.

    He said cancer bears an immense cost to the nation as it robs us of precious lives at an unprecedented rate, majority being in their most productive age.

    In addition, Githinji noted, families suffer financial catastrophe as a result of the high costs associated with accessing comprehensive cancer care services.

    “What concerns us so much is that two out of every patient who are diagnosed die in the year of diagnosis. This is because majority of them are diagnosed at a late stage,” said Githinji adding that screening is a key role of the County Governments and it should be done early enough.

    Githinji highlighted that the National Cancer Institute (NCI) is working with the ministry of Health to establish an advisory service for cancer patients so that when someone is diagnosed with cancer and does not know where to get help locally or abroad can be advised accordingly.

    He urged cancer patients to attend the summit scheduled for 2nd-4th February2023 and be heard so as to help them get back to active economic and social participation.

  • Kenyans Urged To Screen For Diabetes

    Kenyans Urged To Screen For Diabetes

    As Kenya joined the world to commemorate World Diabetes Day 2022, Kenyans have been urged to take responsibility in the prevention of diabetes and avail themselves for screening for diabetes in all public health facilities.

    Speaking during the celebration, Acting Director, Preventive and Promotive Services Dr. Andrew Mulwa said diabetes is a serious threat to the attainment of our country’s health and economic aspirations, with more than 87 percent of Kenyans not knowing the status of their blood sugar.

    He noted that it is estimated that nearly 5 percent of Kenyans have elevated blood glucose, but only 40 percent of them are currently on treatment and follow-up.

    This year’s theme, “Access to Diabetes Care; If Not Now, When?” is informed by the fact that more than 537 million people living with diabetes globally require ongoing care and support to manage their condition and avoid complications.

    Unfortunately, Mulwa noted that this care is not always accessible and affordable calling upon the government, civil society and other stakeholders to act now to make diabetes care accessible and affordable.

    He reiterated that Diabetes is a manageable condition, and with the right treatment, persons living with diabetes can live long and productive lives free of complications.

    However, he stated that it is unacceptable that only 40 percent of those who have ever been diagnosed with diabetes are currently on medication, adding that the main danger with this scenario is that those not taking medication are predisposed to eye, kidney, heart, foot and brain complications.

    Mulwa pointed out that children, adolescents and young adults living with diabetes bear the greatest brunt of the condition, thus there was need to put more focus on this population.

    He emphasized that his Ministry and County Governments, with the support of Novo Nordisk, Roche Diabetes, Kenya Diabetes Management and Information Center and other partners, are implementing a program dubbed, “Changing Diabetes in Children” (CDiC).

    The program, Mulwa explained, aims to ensure that all Kenyans below 25 years living with diabetes access insulin, blood glucose monitoring equipment, syringes and other supplies at no cost.

    So far, Dr. Mulwa disclosed, the program has reached over 3800 children across 37 counties with an overall aim of reaching all the children living with diabetes in the country and ensuring that they live quality lives free of diabetes complications.

    He said his Ministry has also ensured that people living with diabetes are accorded priority in the COVID-19 vaccine administration.

    “COVID-19 vaccine will go a long way in the prevention of covid-19 infection and exacerbation of severe symptoms if infected. I call upon all the people living with diabetes and other chronic conditions to take up this opportunity provided for free by the Ministry and ensure that they and their family members are vaccinated,” said Mulwa.

    In order to access quality diabetes prevention, screening, diagnosis and care, the Ministry of Health has established diabetes clinics in all the county hospitals in Kenya, with 6 centres of excellence in the following sites, Kenyatta National Hospital, Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Nakuru PGH, Machakos County Referral Hospital, Coast Provincial General Hospital and Kakamega County Referral Hospital.

    The Ministry of Health has also developed guidelines and manuals such as the National Clinical Guidelines for the Management of Diabetes Mellitus – 2nd edition of 2018, Competency-Based Training Curriculum on Diabetes Mellitus for health care providers and Peer Educator’s Manual.

    Further, the Ministry of Health in a partnership with Kenya Diabetes Management and Information Centre, Novo Nordisk and Roche Diabetes in a program dubbed, Changing Diabetes in Children (CDiC) has put in place provision of insulin and other supplies at no cost to all children and adolescents living with diabetes in Kenya.

    “We have formed more than 400 diabetes support groups in 25 counties across the country and plans are in place to reach all the 47 counties. I call upon all the people living with diabetes to join this movement as a way of ensuring that they provide psychosocial support to each other,” said Mulwa.

  • Government Endorses Elimination Of Problematic Plastics

    Government Endorses Elimination Of Problematic Plastics

    The Kenya Plastics Pact (KPP) has published a list of problematic and unnecessary plastic items to be eliminated in Kenya.

    This adds to the already existing government’s plastic bag ban that came into force in 2017 and the ban on selected single-use plastic items in protected areas from June 2020.

    The priority list supports a collective plan to meet the target of phasing out problematic and unnecessary plastic items by 2030 and has been endorsed by the Government through the Ministry of Environment and Forestry and 39 Kenya Plastics Pact business members and supporters.

    The priority list is disaggregated into plastic packaging items, non-packaging plastic items and additives.

    The plastic packaging items listed include all polystyrene (PS) packaging, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) rigid packaging (including bottles), Expanded Polystyrene (EPS), plastic packaging for fast foods, Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol (PETG) in rigid packaging, secondary plastic cling film on takeaway packaging.

    Others include consumer plastic multi-wrap around cans, tins, bottles, and cartons for multi-sales, PETG and PVC shrink sleeves on PET bottles, while items under non-packaging plastic are disposable plastic cutlery, disposable plastic plates and bowls, plastic straws, plastic stirrers, and plastic cotton bud sticks. Those under the plastic additives category are Oxo-degradable plastics products.

    The plastic items under the current ban in protected areas have been included, since they are problematic (have no value for collection as they are limited, cannot be recycled or are contaminated for recycling, thus end up in the environment) and unnecessary and there are alternatives already available, an indication that there could be a total ban in the near future.

    “During the 2nd Oceans Conference in Lisbon in June 2022, Kenya announced its intention to join the Global Commitment on Plastics that is spearheaded by UNEP and the Ellen McArthur Foundation.

    As an initial step, the country is expected to declare its plastics reduction targets and the government will work closely with the Kenya Plastics Pact to propose realistic targets,” said the Environment and Forestry PS Dr. Chris Kiptoo

    In a speech read on his behalf by the Director of Environmental Education and Awareness at the Ministry Dr. Ayub Macharia, the PS appealed to the producers trading with plastic items to take necessary action.

    “This is indeed an important step towards sound management and use of plastics in Kenya. I commend all members and supporters for being proactive and grabbing this opportunity for the betterment of Kenya,” he added.

    Plastic pollution is now a global crisis that demands a systems approach to combat it. Materials production and disposal, including plastics, remain a complex challenge that our generation is confronted with. It is just one part of the triple challenge of – climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution – which are existential threats to our survival as humans on our shared planet.

    The world currently produces 400 million tonnes of plastics per year, while only less than 10% is recycled. It is estimated that if the status quo is maintained, by 2050 we will have more plastic in oceans than fish. Marine organisms such as turtles, fish and seabirds, are ingesting plastic with tragic results.

    Microplastics are also building up along the food chain and this is likely to have adverse effects on humanity and biodiversity.

    According to the Kenya Plastics Pact Program Manager Ebenezer Amadi, “Phasing out problematic and unnecessary single-use plastic packaging is essential to shift our economy and community to more durable, reusable, and recyclable packaging. By tackling these problematic items, we will also reduce packaging consumption and waste, improve the economics of recycling, increase employment, lift recycling rates and help boost recycled content in packaging.”

    Furthermore, the Kenya Plastics Pact (KPP) supports the operationalization of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes under which plastics are subject. Once enacted, EPR will eliminate laggards towards the transition to a circular economy that has proven potential to activate new business models and generate job opportunities in waste management.

    On his part Macharia said, “We are excited that this initiative integrated the new developments in waste management to arrive at the four targets to be achieved by 2030, whose targets is to eliminate unnecessary or problematic single-use plastic packaging items through redesign, innovation, and reuse delivery models.”

    He added that the initiative also aims to ensure that 100% of plastic packaging is reusable or recyclable and 40 % of plastic packaging is effectively recycled.

    “The Ministry will continue to work closely with KPP to ensure progress towards a Kenya free of plastics pollution. To achieve this, we need more private sector stakeholders to join the initiative as they would benefit from scientific benchmarking to progress towards sustainable development,” emphasized Macharia.

    His sentiments were echoed by WWF-Kenya CEO Mohamed Awer who noted that the Keya Plastics Pact is an important strategy that must be pursued in parallel with other strategies such as the EPR and other legally binding and voluntary schemes to achieve a truly circular economy for plastics.

    “To ultimately achieve the reality of No Plastic in Nature, we will need all hands on deck starting with companies, policymakers, cities’ officials and the public to do their part to grow sustainable, accessible, and inclusive circular economy systems. We need to appreciate the unique challenges within the Kenya context and apply locally-led solutions to accelerate the transition to a circular economy in Kenya,” he stressed.