Over 150 stakeholders from trade unions in the health sector have validated the People’s Health Manifesto.
The manifesto, unveiled at the Ufungamano house in Nairobi, calls on all political parties and aspirants to adopt health policy priorities as they seek national and county offices in the upcoming 2022 General Elections.
Such initiatives include; ensuring one community health worker is employed for every 50 households and one doctor per 1000 Kenyans.
The unions also upvoted the
Guarantee Universal Healthcare which entails increasing investment in national and county public healthcare facilities by 15% and 50% of the overall budget.
At least 85% of NHIF spending goes to public healthcare facilities, according to the manifesto.
KMPDU Secretary General Dr. Davi Bhamji said the country was suffering from a public health crisis.
“Despite numerous public resources invested in training doctors, Kenyans seeking care in health facilities are unable to enjoy the quality services as expected.
As a result, there is massive unemployment of highly skilled medical personnel.” Says KMPDU National Secretary-General Dr. Davi Bhimji.
Amnesty International Kenya director Rung Houghton said the policy will help the country’s health systems in the wake of another health emergency.
“As we build back better from COVID-19, these four priorities must be placed squarely in the manifestos of all political parties and aspirants in the upcoming General Elections. If there is one thing we must learn from COVID-19, it is that healthy living habits, adequate investment in health-workers and health infrastructure is critical for disease prevention.” Says Amnesty International Kenya Executive Director rung Houghton.
The manifesto marks the beginning of public demand for all political parties and aspirants to prioritise the right to health and affordable, accessible, available, and quality healthcare.
