Peremende Movement for Health Sector Reforms in Kenya
- by: Greyfos Consulting
- recipient: All Presidential Candidates, Governors, Senators & MP Aspirants in Kenya
Health is a basic human right. The New Constitution guarantees Kenyans the highest form of Healthcare.
HOWEVER;
§ Kenyans are dying, and they are dying in droves from illnesses and conditions that can be easily prevented or managed; they are dying because the Kenyan government is yet to commit to ensuring every Kenyan receives quality, accessible and affordable health care.
§ More than 80% of the existing hospitals in Kenya are poorly staffed, poorly equipped and have no infrastructure in relation to current norms and standards.
§ More than half of the health facilities that were upgraded from dispensary/health centre status to hospitals in the last 3-4 years were upgraded only on paper – staffing, equipment and infrastructure remain the same.
§ Only half of Kenyans are able to access health facilities in the Kenya.
§ Kenya is currently grappling with a triple burden of disease, with infectious epidemics of yesteryears (HIV/AIDS, TB, Malaria etc), being rapidly overtaken by Non-Communicable Diseases such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes and injuries.
§ The overall government response however, remains stuck in the 90’s with unbalanced focus on infectious disease. This has necessitated the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Kenyans who suffer from non-communicable diseases and injuries every year. THIS IS CRIMINAL.
IT GETS WORSE;
§ Drug supply chain management in Kenya is very poor. Last year alone, Kenya lost KShs. 500 million in drug wastage;
§ Current evidence shows that up to 30% of medicines in Kenya are counterfeit, Meaning that instead of being protected, Kenyan consumers are being exposed to toxic and poisonous products as a result of inefficient government monitoring systems instead;
§ Almost all the medical equipment used in public health facilities are well beyond their lifespan. For example, the only radiotherapy machine in the country is a 1970’s model that exposes patients to excessive radiation and is prone to frequent breakdowns posing enormous risks to patients.
§ Overall, Kenya has 16 doctors per 100,000 population and 153 nurses per 100,000 population. WHO’s recommended minimum staffing levels are 100 doctors and 356 nurses per 100,000 population.
§ Of the health staff referred to above, only a third are in the public service.
§ The current overall health staff requirement as per the new staff establishment in Kenya is 114,023. Only 39,165 positions are filled; 74,858 positions remain vacant.
§ Despite ever-growing challenges in the health sector, government investment in the health sector as reflected by its budgetary allocation to health has remained a paltry 5% since the 1990’s. The recommended % for African countries is 15% of national budgets. (Abuja Declaration, which Kenya is a signatory).
§ The above grim scenarios have impacted negatively on health service delivery and made MDG targets realization a mirage.
By signing this petition, you are demanding that all Presidential Candidates, Governors, Senators and Members of Parliament sign a Memorandum of Agreement to implement in its entirety the Musyimi Task Force Report of 2011 to Reform the Kenyan Health Sector.
To all Aspirants,
Health is a basic human right. The New Constitution guarantees Kenyans the highest form of Healthcare under the constitution.
HOWEVER;
§ Kenyans are dying, and they are dying in droves from illnesses and conditions that can be easily prevented or managed; they are dying because the Kenyan government is yet to commit to ensuring every Kenyan receives quality, accessible and affordable health care.
§ More than 80% of the existing hospitals in Kenya are poorly staffed, poorly equipped and have no infrastructure in relation to current norms and standards.
§ More than half of the health facilities that were upgraded from dispensary/health centre status to hospitals in the last 3-4 years were upgraded only on paper – staffing, equipment and infrastructure remain the same.
§ Only half of Kenyans are able to access health facilities in the Kenya.
§ Kenya is currently grappling with a triple burden of disease, with infectious epidemics of yesteryears (HIV/AIDS, TB, Malaria etc), being rapidly overtaken by Non-Communicable Diseases such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes and injuries.
§ The overall government response however, remains stuck in the 90’s with unbalanced focus on infectious disease. This has necessitated the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Kenyans who suffer from non-communicable diseases and injuries every year. THIS IS CRIMINAL.
IT GETS WORSE;
§ Drug supply chain management in Kenya is very poor. Last year alone, Kenya lost KShs. 500 million in drug wastage;
§ Current evidence shows that up to 30% of medicines in Kenya are counterfeit, Meaning that instead of being protected, Kenyan consumers are being exposed to toxic and poisonous products as a result of inefficient government monitoring systems instead;
§ Almost all the medical equipment used in public health facilities are well beyond their lifespan. For example, the only radiotherapy machine in the country is a 1970’s model that exposes patients to excessive radiation and is prone to frequent breakdowns posing enormous risks to patients.
§ Overall, Kenya has 16 doctors per 100,000 population and 153 nurses per 100,000 population. WHO’s recommended minimum staffing levels are 100 doctors and 356 nurses per 100,000 population.
§ Of the health staff referred to above, only a third are in the public service.
§ The current overall health staff requirement as per the new staff establishment in Kenya is 114,023. Only 39,165 positions are filled; 74,858 positions remain vacant.
§ Despite ever-growing challenges in the health sector, government investment in the health sector as reflected by its budgetary allocation to health has remained a paltry 5% since the 1990’s. The recommended % for African countries is 15% of national budgets. (Abuja Declaration, which Kenya is a signatory).
§ The above grim scenarios have impacted negatively on health service delivery and made MDG targets realization a mirage.
By signing this petition, you are demanding that all Presidential Candidates, Governors, Senators and Members of Parliament sign a Memorandum of Agreement to implement in its entirety the Musyimi Task Force Report of 2011 to Reform the Kenyan Health Sector.
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