THE STANDARD
OPINION
The world celebrates the International Day of the Midwife today, taking stock of the work done by this valuable cadre of health workers in our maternity units and other service delivery points of maternal and newborn care. It has been a challenging season since Covid-19 struck. It is worth reiterating that pregnancies do not stop even with crises.
The workload and working environment pose a great challenge to those providing midwifery services. The theme of this year’s celebration, “Follow the data, invest in midwives,” is a call on governments and all key stakeholders to use the data on maternal and newborn health, put money where it counts and invest in midwives.
THE STANDARD
RIFT VALLEY
Dr Angeline Ithondeka a consultant paediatrician at the Naivasha sub county hospital has a word with mothers during a post-natal clinic in the facility. [Pix By Antony Gitonga]
The Linda Mama free health scheme that supports pregnant women and infants in accessing health services could crumble due to lack of funds.
Public health facilities across the country are facing financial challenges due to failure by the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF), which manages the scheme, to remit cash for the scheme since November 2020.
As a result, women seeking delivery services have been forced to buy some basic medical equipment as hospitals can no longer afford to cater for their medical needs.
Mini Medical Safaris: Beyond Zero Seeks To Support Sectors Affected by Covid-19
First Lady Margaret Kenyatta’s Beyond Zero Initiative has began a new intervention specifically targeting rural communities with medical services to support sectors adversely affected by COVID-19.
Beyond Zero is keen on supporting Kenyans in resuscitating their economic activities by providing critical health services in the rural areas.
Speaking Tuesday at the inaugural event to launch the programme, Beyond Zero Programme Officer Angella Langat said that like the original Beyond Zero Medical Safaris, the new approach dubbed ‘Mini Medical Safaris’, will take specialised and regular medical services to vulnerable communities, including flower farm workers, at no cost.
Kenya: When NHIF Lets You Down in Hour of Need allafrica.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from allafrica.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Mr Oparanya said the court had declared the strike illegal and medics participating in it would only have themselves to blame.
Last week, the Kakamega County Assembly said it would not engage the striking health workers in dialogue but would instead hire new staff to replace them.
The board intends to hire 15 registered clinical officer III, 110 registered nurses III, 10 nutrition and dietetics technologists III, 10 medical social workers III and five medical laboratory technologists III.
Candidates are required to submit their applications online by December 31.
A stranded patient at Kisumu County Hospital on December 22. [Collins Oduor, Standard]
Governors have maintained that the demands made by the striking doctors, nurses and clinicians are unrealistic.