Category: Medical & Health

The County Government of Nakuru is implementing a range of preventive and promotional measures to address f mental health challenges in work place in a move aimed at improving the well-being of its employees. The County Mental Health Coordinator Lydiah Nyagah acknowledged that mental health posed a challenge across all departments and underscored the need for immediate action. Nyagah indicated that they were investing in several mental wellness initiatives that were friendly to employers, while creating an environment that allows workers of all cadres to freely share their personal problems and challenges at workplaces. She said the county government was providing psycho-educational support to its workers as there was an increasing demand for the services. ‘Mental health challenges have a significant impact on productivity within the public service and there is need to take urgent actions to reverse the worrying trends,’ explained the Coordinator. According to the Kenya Mental Health Investment Case, the country incurred losses of Sh62.2 billion due to mental health conditions in work place. Nyagah spoke during a meeting convened by the office of the chief officer of Administration and devolution that brought together mental health champions from all the departments and the 11 Sub-counties to develop and establish a psycho-social approach to dealing with the mental challenges of staff and management within the County. The Coordinator suggested that once a mental health was detected or suspected among employees, supervisors should act immediately bearing in mind that such cases ought to be treated as an emergency unlike being a discipline or human resources issue. While acknowledging that mental health was a serious predicament in the country, she encouraged health workers to consult their superiors, peers, and family members when faced with difficult times, adding that all issues irrespective of their magnitude could be addressed. She cited some of the Mental health issues such as depression, stress, burnout, anxiety disorders, substance abuse, attention deficit hyperactivity, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder among others, adding that the disorders were a silent pandemic afflicting public servants in large proportions and that majority of them were triggered by both work related and social issues. To create a healthy workspace, Nyagah advised supervisors to understand the unique opportunities and needs of individual workers and interventions and good practices that protect and promote mental health in the workplace. She said Governor Susan Kihika’s administration had opened up channels of communication among all cadres of employees as part of ways of detecting any form of stress among them and was always keen to detect any trigger that may lead to depression, stress or mental illness and act immediately. Nyagah at the same time warned that putting mental health of workers on the back burner means an increase in reported violent crimes, homicides, suicides, gender-based and sexual violence among other crimes. ‘Observations with regard to changes in personality of junior staff should be taken seriously by their superiors,’ she advised. According to the coordinator, offering access to counselling services, and mental health days, and incorporating employee assistance programmes can aid employees in their struggles. One of the most visible manifestations of the mental health challenge is suicide, estimated at about four cases per day by the World Health Organization. County special programs officer Teresia Yatich, underscored the importance of developing a comprehensive plan for training staff on prevention and identifying problems that will help in reviewing the mental wellness of the affected cases. She indicated that holding regular inclusive and cohesive meetings, training staff, and offering psychosocial support will improve mental health among staff at the workplace and reduce mental disorders that sometimes lead to suicidal tendencies. Yatich affirmed that employers have a responsibility to create a supportive workplace culture that promotes the well-being of the mind. She added that offering flexible work arrangements ccould reduce stress by providing options like remote working, which allows employees to better manage their work-life balance. Organizations, she suggested, should also provide mental health training for managers and employees to recognize signs of distress and know how to respond to them. Chairperson of Kenya Counseling and Psychological Association Charles Musambi highlighted the need to embrace open and honest conversations within the family unit. He explained that seeking professional counselling would help in navigating the complex emotions associated with grief. Musambi noted that addressing mental health required a multi-pronged approach that involves policies and community initiatives. A recent study has revealed that many middle and top-level organizations in Kenya, including Government departments and agencies, are populated by workers who are suffering unattended from a wide range of mental illnesses, including depression, stress, anxiety, suicidal thoughts and anger.

Source: Kenya News Agency

At least four out of a total of 30,149 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) candidates in Makueni county are sitting for their exams at various county health facilities. Mbooni west Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) Stanlaus Apwoka confirmed that one candidate from Senior Chief Munguti Secondary school was doing exams at Mbooni Sub County hospital. ‘Two students from Masumba and St Anthony Ithiani secondary schools are doing their exams at Makueni county referral hospital and Health facility in Nzaui sub county after delivering babies last week and yesterday respectively,’ said Nzaui DCC Timothy Tirop while speaking to KNA on Monday. Also, one Student from Yemole secondary school in Kathonzweni Sub County is sitting for exams at Makueni Referral hospital after delivering a baby. Makueni Sub County Director of Education Yopesh Magara noted that all measures are in place and the exercise is running on smoothly as planned. ‘In Makueni Sub County, there are a total of 4,087 candidates where 2,053 are boys while 2,034 are girls,’ said Magara on Monday during the opening exam container at Wote headquarters offices. Out of 30,149 candidates sitting for KCSE in Makueni county, 15,090 are boys while 15,059 are girls.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The Senate Health Committee has urged the Kisii County government to address gaps identified at the Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital (KTRH) to improve service delivery in the county. Speaking during a fact-finding mission at the facility, the Committee Chairperson, Senator Jackson Mandago said the team together with the County Assembly Health Committee members had jointly inspected the facility and pinpointed challenges that required urgent interventions. Mandago noted the inadequate supply of oxygen at the hospital theatres saying that one year ago, KTRH was not only able to supply their oxygen but also supplied nearby health facilities and neighbouring counties. ‘We would like to urge the county government to go back to that and ensure the oxygen facility is working,’ he said. The Senator highlighted the lack of record keeping at the pharmaceutical stores and called for the digitization of the records adding that the exercise would help to determine reorder levels and whether the drugs were used within the facility or outside. Mandago urged the county government to conduct general repairs at the facility from time to time and instructed the Public Health Officer in charge of the facility to ensure the incinerator was functional. Notably, he lauded the hospital for offering exceptional services at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and the mortuary adding that the services at the morgue can only be compared to those offered at private homes. The Senator encouraged healthcare providers to ensure they are working to support the patients despite the challenges posed. Senator Esther Okenyuri decried the low number of expectant mothers receiving prenatal care at the facility. Okenyuri called upon the Community Health Promoters (CHPs) in the county to mop up expectant mothers in the county to ensure they benefit from prenatal and postnatal care services offered at the health facilities. Kisii County Assembly Health Committee Member, Amos Onderi said the visit was essential to establish the gaps in the health sector, both in service delivery and demand creation so that the county can be able to bridge those gaps. Onderi who is the MCA Bokimonge Ward, urged the Committee to recommend a Regional Screening Center in the region since the blood transfused at the hospital is usually transported for screening in Nairobi. He also requested support in strengthening commodity management as well as the provision of pharmaceuticals at the chest clinic for intensive cases and continuation case management for tuberculosis (TB) cases at the hospital. Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka said the exercise will enable the county to come up with recommendations and persuade the national government to support the health facilities with additional funding. Onyonka urged the county government to ensure the health facilities are functional adding that Kisii Governor Simba Arati should be proactive in operationalizing facilities such as the Mother and Child Hospital so that it becomes a success story after five years.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Three children in Kisumu County are in need of specialized treatment after a team of medical experts discovered that each of them has a hole in the heart. The children aged 10 years and below were among 1000 residents of Manyatta slums who benefitted from free medical services last week. Organized by Uhuru Community Development Program (UCDP) and a German NGO, Armut und Gesundheit (Dentist for Africa together with Poverty and Health) the programs target the poor in society. The NGO’s Chairman Prof. Gerhard Trabert said it was unfortunate that the poor in Kenya still have to pay for basic health services. Prof. Trabert said in Germany such services are free and urged stakeholders in the health sector in Kenya to pool resources to bailout the poor in society. UCDP Executive Director, Davies Okombo said Kenya has not yet achieved the SDG 3 which requires that no one should be left behind in development and access to quality health. Okombo urged the government to expand its budgetary allocation for the health sector in order to attain Universal Health Care (UHC) in all the 47 counties. ‘This will greatly reduce the high cost of medical care through implementing the social protection program,’ Okombo argued. The Director took issue with private hospitals that charge exorbitant fees to the extent that they commercialize health services and detain indefinitely patients who fail to pay. Okombo challenged them to instead strive to supplement government efforts to deliver quality health services to members of the public. Prof. Trabert who is renowned for saving illegal immigrants marooned on the seas while crossing into Germany said every life including those in the slums of Manyatta matters. The don who is himself a medical doctor opposed those pushing for closing of German borders to lockout immigrants terming this inhuman acts. Having emerged second in the last German Presidential elections, Prof. Trabert said he fully supports the President but continues challenging policies frustrating provision of quality health services. ‘Most wealth in Germany emanated from Africa which is now considered as poor. Perhaps it’s time for us to pay back in kind,’ he declared. We may have wronged African people by taking away their valuable resources but we now have a chance to correct the past through close collaboration in various sectors, explained the medic. The NGO operates in Africa, Asia and Europe fighting poverty while promoting quality health services among other programs. ‘It’s our duty to help since poverty levels in Africa is alarming and largely attributed to having been impoverished by Europeans and so we need atonement for this,’ he said. Prof. Trabert called for fair trade agreements as opposed to lopsided ones that only benefited one side but not Africa. He said it was unfortunate that Europe at one time stopped funding development in Africa but now there is a deliberate action to bridge the gap. The NGO also targets Persons Living with Disabilities or the handicapped in Syria, Northern Ireland, Turkey, Greece and Laos Island who lack toilet facilities and other basic needs.

Source: Kenya News Agency