Ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP-28), WHO has published its “2023 review of health in nationally determined contributions and long-term strategies” highlighting the actions needed to ensure that people’s health is fully prioritised and integrated into national plans to fight climate change. Climate

The WHO has announced a new Commission on Social Connection, to address loneliness as a pressing health threat, promote social connection as a priority and accelerate the scaling up of solutions in countries of all incomes. Co-chaired by US Surgeon General, Dr Vivek Murthy, and

The inaugural Africa Climate Summit has drawn its curtains in Nairobi, Kenya. Being the first climate summit bringing African leaders to steer the climate change conversation from an African lens, it remains a strong indicator that Africa is positioning itself for a greater and unified

    Statement by Catherine Russell and Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus   In the last 10 years, many countries have made significant progress to increase exclusive breastfeeding rates. Yet even greater progress is possible when breastfeeding is protected and supported, particularly in the workplace.  

The Constitution of Kenya, 2010 has been heralded as one of the most transformative constitutional frameworks in the world. A key indicator for this global acclaim is the express provision and codification of human rights, with an entire chapter on the same. Specifically, the Constitution

In the past decade, the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (Kemsa) has been involved in one scandal after another. Every other year, Kemsa is embroiled in what are mostly procurement-related scandals. It, therefore, came as no surprise when on Monday, May 16th 2023, Health Cabinet Secretary

A new solution, known as E-MOTIVE, could provide a major breakthrough in reducing deaths from childbirth-related bleeding according to a landmark study by researchers from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the University of Birmingham. Postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) – defined as the loss of more

WHO is concerned with continued attempts by the tobacco industry and its surrogates to further its interests to influence scientific research, public perception, policy-making, and the media; all aimed to ensure the proliferation and sale of nicotine and tobacco products. The tobacco industry continues to

The enormous negative impact of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) on public health systems across the sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) region today is receiving much more attention on the policy agenda than it did two decades ago. Amid this commendable progress, however, there is an emerging risk that

Alcohol abuse is a prevalent issue in Kenya, and the government has implemented various measures to tackle it. These measures comprise policies, programmes, and regulations to reduce alcohol abuse, enhance treatment and rehabilitation, and promote responsible drinking habits. This article analyses the government’s efforts to

WHO has updated its tracking system and working definitions for variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, to better correspond to the current global variant landscape, to independently evaluate Omicron sublineages in circulation, and classify new variants more clearly when required. SARS-CoV-2 continues to

Nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba unorthodox bid to raise awareness on the scourge of period shame and period poverty was the talk of the country on Valentine’s Day 2023. Orwoba caused a stir as she attended parliamentary proceedings in a white ‘blood-stained’ suit. The Senator drew

These proposed Temporary Recommendations continue to support the goal of the Strategic Preparedness, Readiness and Response Plan for Monkeypox 2022–2023 with the aim of stopping the ongoing mpox outbreak and its objectives to interrupt human-to-human transmission, protect the vulnerable, and minimize zoonotic transmission of the

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recently sounded the alarm on the continued and aggressive marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes but where does Kenya lie on this issue? Kenya issued draft Breast Milk Substitutes (Regulations and Control) (General) Regulations in 2021 for public review. The draft

E-waste refers to electronic products that are unwanted, not working, and nearing or at the end of their “useful life.” E-waste can also be any electrical or electronic equipment that’s been discarded. This includes working and broken items that are thrown in the garbage. E-waste

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has decried the surge in exploitative marketing tactics used by the formula milk industry and called for a clamp down on the industry.  In a statement on 6th February 2023, WHO faulted the vast economic and political power of the

Supported by the PIP Framework Partnership Contribution, in 2022, WHO initiated a project to estimate medical countermeasures (MCMs) needed during a future influenza pandemic. Effective planning for the deployment of pandemic influenza response products including vaccines, antivirals and diagnostics is critical to ensuring the timely

The health system in Kenya has for the longest time been of great concern to many. A section of Kenyans have complained about poor services in hospitals where some have lost their loved ones due to alleged negligence by caregivers. Some cases have been taken

A controlled substance is generally a drug or chemical whose manufacture, possession, or use is regulated by a government, such as illicitly used drugs or prescription medications that are designated by law.  They are tightly controlled by the government because they may be abused or

Views from national governments and relevant authorities 52 national governments and relevant authorities provided their views on how well multilateral agencies and other development partners align to their national priorities and plans and collaborate with each other to increase efficiencies and avoid duplications when providing

The Kenya demographic and health survey  2022 shows that the average number of sexual partners are 2:3 among women and 7:4 among men in Kenya. Background The primary objective of the 2022 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey is to provide up-to- date estimates of demographic,

12 January 2023/ News release United Nations agencies are calling for urgent action to protect the most vulnerable children in the 15 countries hardest hit by an unprecedented food and nutrition crisis. Conflict, climate shocks, the ongoing impacts of COVID-19, and rising costs of living

14 December 2022 / News release Urgent action is needed globally and locally to achieve safe and sustainably managed water, sanitation and hygiene for all in order to prevent devastating impacts on the health of millions of people. Findings from WHO and UN-Water’s Global Analysis

7 December 2022 / News release / Geneva   Member States of the World Health Organization today agreed to develop the first draft of a legally binding agreement designed to protect the world from future pandemics. This “zero draft” of the pandemic accord, rooted in

Meeting on the sidelines of the International Conference on Family Planning in Thailand, the World Health Organization (WHO), the UN Special Research Programme HRP, and FP2030 today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) committing to strengthen collaboration on sexual and reproductive health and rights – 

On the eve of the pivotal climate talks at COP27, WHO issued a grim reminder that the climate crisis continues to make people sick and jeopardize lives, and that health must be at the core of these critical negotiations. WHO believes the conference must end

MOTION ·         The appointment of a joint select committee on election of members to the East African Legislative Assembly was moved. ·          Approval of Senators to serve in the county public accounts committee; county public investments and

The World Health Organization (WHO) is launching a new Framework for collaborative action on TB and comorbidities to address the limited uptake of collaborative activities to reduce the burden of TB and comorbidities and to support countries in enabling access to people-centred care. The Framework

The inclusion and diversity agenda is key in today’s evolving world. Running sustainable operations now calls for businesses to create shared value and promote social justice amongst their communities. The reality, however, is that Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) have historically missed out on opportunities to

Substandard (contaminated) paediatric medicines identified in WHO region of Africa Alert Summary This WHO Medical Product Alert refers to four substandard products, identified in The Gambia and reported to WHO in September 2022. Substandard medical products are products that fail to meet either their quality

Joint News Release New global WHO guidelines on mental health at work are reinforced by practical strategies outlined in a joint WHO/ILO policy brief. WHO and the International Labour Organization (ILO) have called for concrete actions to address mental health concerns in the working population.

News Release by the World Health Organisation Today, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO, launched a new report calling on global leaders to take urgent action on noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), responsible for 17 million premature deaths every year. To accelerate action Dr Tedros renewed

News Release by the World Health Organisation WHO welcomes the overarching recommendations of The Lancet COVID-19 Commission’s report on “Lessons for the future from the COVID-19 pandemic,” which align with our commitment to stronger global, regional and national pandemic preparedness, prevention, readiness and response. At

News Release by the World Health Organisation Newly established global estimate on hygiene reveals the risk of disease spread and infections to patients and health care providers Half of health care facilities worldwide lack basic hygiene services with water and soap or alcohol-based hand rub

WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, today extended his congratulations to the Republic of Togo, as it was confirmed that the West African country had become the first country to eliminate four devastating neglected tropical diseases. The ceremony took place during the 72nd Session of

News Release by WHO  In June 2022, WHO’s Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus held a dialogue with WHO’s Civil Society Task Force on Tuberculosis (CSTF-TB) in Geneva, Switzerland.  The dialogue was followed by an online town hall with civil society and affected communities on priorities

News Release by World Health Organisation Brain health is an evolving concept, attracting increasing attention not only from the health sector but also from wider society, stimulating rich debate – and for good reasons. The brain and central nervous system are the command centre of

News Release by World Health Organization Millions of lives are in peril, including children. US$ 123.7 million is needed for the health agency’s response until December 2022. The health and lives of people in the greater Horn of Africa are threatened as the region faces

News Release by World Health Organization  WHO on 28/07/22 released new guidelines for the use of long-acting injectable cabotegravir (CAB-LA) as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV and called for countries to consider this safe and highly effective prevention option for people at substantial risk of

Editorial Opinion by Jaindi Kisero from Nation Media Group Here is my take on the Kenyatta University land saga. In the early 1970s, Nairobi, Delhi and New Mexico put in bids for hosting the Unep headquarters. In 1972, the government rolled out a high-profile campaign

Source: WHO WHO and UNICEF sound the alarm as new data shows global vaccination coverage continued to decline in 2021, with 25 million infants missing out on lifesaving vaccines The largest sustained decline in childhood vaccinations in approximately 30 years has been recorded in official

The National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) has rolled out a set of changes that have taken effect starting July 1.  NHIF has increased hospital refunds by 12 per cent. It will also pay for 549 surgical procedures up from 292. The new benefits take effect

Press Relesase by UN The number of people affected by hunger globally rose to as many as 828 million in 2021, an increase of about 46 million since 2020 and 150 million since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a United Nations report. 

Deputy President William Ruto has promised health workers that he will set up a Health Service Commission if he succeeds in his ambitions for the presidency. A Health Service Commission would be a boon for health workers since unlike teachers and the police, they were

Press release by NHIF and Janssen Kenya  Prostate cancer patients covered by the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) can now access an innovator prescription drug manufactured and distributed by Janssen Kenya, one of the pharmaceutical companies of Johnson & Johnson, as part of a strategic

News release by World Health Organization The devastating human, economic, and social cost of COVID-19 has highlighted the urgent need for coordinated action to build stronger health systems and mobilize additional resources for pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response (PPR). The World Bank’s Board of Executive

Press release by KEMSA  A scheduled annual stock take exercise at the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) has commenced today. The exercise was flagged off by KEMSA CEO Terry Ramadhani who confirmed that, during the stock-taking period (from Friday 1st to Friday 8th July), KEMSA

Indoor political meetings are super spreader events for the coronavirus, Health CS Mutahi Kagwe said during a press conference on June 20. What does this mean especially at this time when the political heat has intensified, with the majority of contenders hunting for votes from

By WHO Antibacterial Pipeline Team Development of new antibacterial treatments is inadequate to address the mounting threat of antibiotic resistance, according to the annual pipeline report by the World Health Organization (WHO). The 2021 report describes the antibacterial clinical and preclinical pipeline as stagnant and

Spiking of alcohol in entertainment joints has been a long-running menace for revellers who have raised concerns with relevant authorities over their safety. Revellers who have fallen prey to the alcohol spikers, now popularly known as ‘pishori babes’, have lost considerable amounts of money and

Mental Health is a global issue. In analysis, more than 300 million people around the world are suffering from the leading problem of mental health, depression. This is a representation of 4.4% of the world’s total population. In Kenya, a staggering 1 out of 4

At their most basic level, sustainability and safety are really about the same thing: conserving resources. In fact, they are intertwined with safety being an enabler towards building a sustainable business. Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) policies are necessary for the achievement of several Sustainable

By Mary Mwadime The world has just celebrated World Health Day, which commemorates the  April 7, 1948 founding of the World Health Organization (WHO). This global organisation has played a vital role in advancing positive health outcomes. On this recent occasion, I spared some time

By: John Kabuchi Information Technology solutions continue to provide limitless opportunities facilitating much-needed efficiency at the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) as part of organisational reforms. KEMSA is a strategic State Corporation mandated to undertake roles and responsibilities to ensure supply chain excellence for Health

The Ministry of Health has come out to clear the air after media reports indicated that the ministry had banned the use of breastfeeding bottles. The MoH termed the reports as misinformation by the media which led to a public outcry this week. The media

As early as 2005, the World Health Organisation (WHO) recognized the potential of e-Health to strengthen health systems and improve quality, safety and access to healthcare. The WHO encouraged member states to take action to incorporate e-Health into health systems and services.  Kenya acknowledged the

The Cabinet Secretary for Health has published the National Health Insurance Fund (Contributions) Regulations, 2022 (Draft Regulations). The changes are meant to boost Universal Health Coverage (UHC), but for the changes to work, Ms Mugo, Executive Director of FKE, stated that NHIF needs to step

100 years after discovery, insulin still out of reach for many with diabetes Geneva, November 12, 2021 – A new report published by WHO in the lead-up to World Diabetes Day highlights the alarming state of global access to insulin and diabetes care, and finds

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the lives and livelihoods of many individuals. Many businesses are still trying to catch up with the new normal which has greatly affected how transactions take place. Sectors that were used to cash payments are now accepting cashless payments. This

This week the Pharmacy and Poisons Board published guidance on the role of Private Sector in the deployment of COVID-19 Vaccines (March 2021). The guideline describes the Pharmacy and Poisons Board procedure applicable for private sector engagement in supply of the COVID-19 vaccines. The guideline

The evolution of African policy and interests in legal cannabis production continues to gain traction. In October 2020, the Rwandan Cabinet approved regulatory guidelines for the production and processing of medicinal cannabis for export. Including Rwanda there are now ten countries in the region clearly

A story earlier in the week stating that private companies will be allowed to import and administer Covid-19 vaccines caused concerns online about the Government’s plans. Coming as revelations rolled out of Parliament about the apparently shady procurement at the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency as

It is nearly 40 years since the first reported case of HIV/AIDS. The 32nd edition of the World AIDS Day was commemorated under an unprecedented norm occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic. Over and above the adverse socio-economic impact that has been brought about as a

The Interfaith Council for Corona Response sympathizes, prays and condoles with those that have lost loved ones due to the pandemic and continually pray for those infected and affected and their families. The Council notes that Covid19 pandemic infections and deaths continue to rise in

The Pharmacy and Poisons Act (the “Poisons Act”) which provides a legal framework for the control of the profession of pharmacy and the trade in drugs and poisons lists nicotine and its salts, as a poison under Part I of the Poisons List which is reserved for sale by or under the supervision of pharmacists only.

Government has increased
the health budget by 10.4%
to Kes. 114 Billion

Reproductive rights rest on the recognition of the basic right of all couples and individuals to decide freely and responsibly the number, spacing and timing of their children and to have the information and means to do so, and the right to attain the highest standard of sexual and reproductive health.

The question of right to terminate a pregnancy: Is it time to recognize a woman’s freedom to choose? As highlighted in last week’s feature, a pertinent issue that has come up in the debate of the proposed Reproductive Health Bill, 2019 is whether or not

Police on Friday morning pounced on protesters who had gathered at Uhuru Park in Nairobi to demand the arrest of individuals reported to have been behind the reported theft of funds meant for Covid-19 efforts. Their basis was that the gathering was against the regulations

Studies show that Africa has weathered the pandemic relatively well so far, with fewer than one confirmed case for every thousand people and just 23,000 deaths so far. That is 1:1000 persons.
Antibody surveys show that far more Africans have been infected with the coronavirus and are now resistant to it as per immunologist Sophie Uyoga at the Kenya Medical Research Institute–Wellcome Trust Research Programme

Kenya’s Senate is considering a reproductive healthcare bill, which seeks to address reproductive health gaps. This is the second time the bill has come before the Senate. It has, once again, drawn fire from religious groups, some politicians and civil society lobbies opposed to its proposals.

The African Union (AU) recently published a COVID-19 vaccine strategy. The strategy was announced in a communique issued by the AU ministers of health and heads of delegation following a virtual conference on 24 and 25 June 2020.