Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU), Amnesty International Kenya together with other stakeholders in the healthcare sector have validated ‘The People’s Health Manifesto’.
The manifesto is a product of extensive consultation with consumers and providers of public health services in nine counties namely, Kakamega, Kajiado, Kisumu, Kilifi, Kiambu, Garissa, Nairobi, Tana River and Uasin Gishu and it is geared towards a healthy country dubbed ‘AfyaNation’.
KMPDU Secretary-General, Dr Davji Bhimji Atellah, speaking on Friday at Ufungamano House in Nairobi appealed for more funds for public health facilities as a way of promoting universal health care.
He added that health is a fundamental human right and that the attainment of the highest possible level of health is a worldwide social goal whose realisation requires the action of many other social and economic sectors and players in addition to the health sector.
“This manifesto will prioritise the right to health and affordable, accessible, available and quality healthcare for all Kenyans,” said Attellah.
Amnesty International Kenya Executive Director Irungu Houghton, cited that it is important to strengthen preventive healthcare through community and public health services by ensuring one communal health worker is employed for every 50 households and one doctor per 1000 Kenyans.
“If there is one thing we must learn from covid-19 is that healthy living habits, adequate investment in health workers and health infrastructure is critical for disease prevention,” said Houghton.
He urged the government to deregister any institution denying emergency treatment and diagnostics to patients.
KMPDU the National Treasurer Dr Mercy Nabwire stated that preventive and community healthcare form the core of the long term approach to addressing the health crisis in the country.
Nabwire in her remarks mentioned that there is a need to promote health through prevention by investing in the community and public health.
Inequalities and Discrimination Manager for Amnesty Kenya Diana Gichengo revealed that every Kenyan has a right to access the highest attainable standards of health services.
Other stakeholders in the health sector called for unity and teamwork as well as education to the people for community empowerment.