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Health CS Outlines Healthcare Agenda In Meeting with Ministry of Health Staff
HealthNews

Health CS Outlines Healthcare Agenda In A Meeting with Ministry of Health Staff

by Ndungu Brian
written by Ndungu Brian

Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha has pledged to spearhead a people-centered approach to healthcare delivery in the country.

Speaking on Monday during a meeting with all staff at the ministry, the health CS said there was need for a balanced, holistic and people-centered approach in the management of services if the country is to realize its healthcare agenda.

The health CS committed to streamline operations at the ministry to harmonize them with the government’s health agenda even as she pledged to look into the grievances of staff

“I urge you to be customer focused, faithfully observe respective professional codes of conduct and adhere to all government directives and regulations,” she challenged members of staff.

The health CS committed to streamline operations at the ministry to harmonize them with the government’s health agenda even as she pledged to look into the grievances of staff.

“The issues raised including that of human resource are not matters we can’t surmount. The issues will be addressed progressively.” Pledged Nakhumicha.

She said the ministry is in the process of aligning its operations with the Executive order 01 of 2022 that defines the functions of the ministry of health.

Present during the meeting was principal secretary state department for medical services Engineer Peter Tum, state department for health standards and professional management principal secretary Dr. Josephine Mburu, acting director general for health Dr. Patrick Amoth and head of the various directorates at the ministry of health

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Over 15,000 KMTC Students Graduate
Awards & RecognitionHealthNews

Over 15,000 KMTC Students Graduate

by Ndungu Brian
written by Ndungu Brian

The government’s strategy to increase the country’s health workforce has received a shot in the arm following the graduation of 15,915 students from the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC).

This is the first time in the institution’s 95-year-old history, to churn out such a large number of graduates who were conferred with various certificates, diplomas and higher diplomas.

Presiding over the 91st graduation ceremony which was largely a virtual event; Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha underscored the government’s commitment to realizing the constitutional right to health for all citizens.

“Health workforce as we know, is a key health system building block without which we cannot achieve universal health coverage. A well-performing health workforce is one that is responsive, fair and efficient to achieve the best health outcomes.” Stated the CS.

Additionally, she noted the need to enhance the country’s health provider to patient ratios in line with the global standards and align training to meet the growing demand for patient-centered care, community-based health services, and personalized long-term care.

As a country, we need to align future production of health care workers to the population health needs

“Demand for the global health workforce is expected to grow substantially. As a country, we need to align future production of health care workers to the population health needs, “emphasized Nakhumicha.

In congratulating the graduate class of 2022, the Cabinet Secretary who is also an alumnus of KMTC, urged the graduates to practice the health professional’s mantra of putting the interests of the patients first.

“I know that your training has equipped you, not just with knowledge, skills and abilities but it has also given you a great foundation to become positive agents of change who will provide innovative solutions to the problems facing our health sector. The patients of today are not the patients of yester years; they are more informed. As you go out, remember that the interest of your patient supersedes any other interest.” Concluded the CS.

Addressing the graduates, the institutions CEO Dr. Kelly Oluoch said the number of graduates released annually into the job market was on an upward trajectory amid a growing demand for diversification of training programs to enhance training opportunities for the youth.

“The College has expanded its training programs, reviewed and developed curriculum to revolutionize patient centered healthcare. Even as we grow, the College remains committed to quality standards, excellence, as well as regulatory frameworks” said the CEO.

Similar sentiments were echoed by KMTC board chairman ambassador Zachary Muburi who said the institution receive over 30,000 applications annually to train at the facility. However, they were only able to absorb about two-thirds of the applicants in the existing 72 campuses spread across 44 of the 47 Counties.

Among the 15,915 graduates, 692 were awarded Higher Diplomas, 8,235 Diplomas, and 6,988 Certificates. The 2022 theme for the event was “Sustainable and Comprehensive Training towards a Responsive Health System.

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Ministry of Health & Johnson & Johnson Sign MoU to provide mental healthcare services
HealthNews

MOH, Johnson & Johnson To Provide Mental Healthcare Services

by Ndungu Brian
written by Ndungu Brian

The Ministry of Health has signed a collaborative pact with innovative healthcare company Johnson & Johnson to facilitate access to quality mental healthcare services in Kenya.

From the pact, Kenyans will benefit from improved access to effective and appropriate mental healthcare services and products through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Ministry of Health Principal Secretary Susan Mochache and Johnson & Johnson in Kenya.

While speaking at the signing ceremony, Principal Secretary Susan Mochache welcomed the support from Johnson & Johnson, which will also support the development of a Psychiatric Telemedicine Solution in Kenya.

“Mental health is a public health threat. The Ministry of Health expresses its gratitude to Johnson & Johnson for partnering with the Kenyan Government to tackle the mental health burden, manifested by growing suicide cases, gender-based violence and child abuse cases,” Mochache said. She added,”

“Collaboration with Johnson & Johnson touches on mental healthcare priority areas, and the ministry is optimistic that this partnership will bear demonstrable impact nationwide for the next five years.”

Through the MoU provisions, Johnson & Johnson Country Manager, Ms Queenter Owuonda, said the company will continue to support the mental health agenda in the country, including training psychiatric nurses, with an initial cohort already trained.

Johnson &Johnson will also develop an approach for sustainable access to essential and innovative medicines to treat severe mental illness, focusing on Schizophrenia in the public sector.

Johnson & Johnson’s Head of Government Affairs & Policy, Sub Saharan Africa, Ms Idah Asin, reiterated the company’s commitment to supporting the Kenyan Government’s efforts to identify Schizophrenia, particularly in young adults, as this is the age around which Schizophrenia often starts.

She noted that identifying and clinically managing Schizophrenia in young adults remains a crucial pillar of Johnson &Johnson’s contribution to broadening access to mental healthcare support.

Development of the Kenya Mental Health Action Plan to operationalize the Kenya Mental Health Policy, the launch of the suicide Prevention Strategy which provides key interventions and whose implementation will lead to a reduction in suicide-related deaths.

The recent assent of the Mental Health Amendment bill 2020 by His Excellency President Uhuru Kenyatta are some of the milestones the Government has achieved towards strengthening the mental health system in the Country.

The MoU with Johnson and Johnson seeks to build on the achievements through HRH capacity building and improving access to services & products through technology, among others.

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HealthNews

First Batch of Kenyan Nurses Recruited To Work In UK Flagged Off

by Ndungu Brian
written by Ndungu Brian

The first batch of Kenyan nurses recruited to work in the United Kingdom is set to depart the country for their new workstation on Tuesday as part of a bilateral agreement between Kenya and the UK on the recruitment of the Health workforce.

The nineteen nurses have been recruited to the prestigious Oxford University Hospital with 13 of them taking off on Tuesday while the remaining 6 will depart in two weeks after completion of the clearance process.

Speaking during the flagging off ceremony, Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said 80 more qualified nurses have already passed the test and are currently awaiting review and possible placement in other hospitals in the UK. This as he lauded the role played by nurses across the globe towards the achievement of universal health coverage.

“Nurses are at the heart of the world’s current health priorities, from fighting non-communicable and infectious diseases to addressing health emergencies and stemming pandemics.” He observed.

With Kenya having received several requests from different countries for Kenyan nurses, Kagwe said the Ministry of Health will set up a task force to deal with all the international recruitment for the health workforce in the country.

“We have currently received several requests from different countries for Kenyan nurses. This calls for a mechanism to manage the process as we also check and control shortage of specialized nurses and midwives in the country.” Said the health CS.

He took the chance to congratulate Mercy Wasike, a Kenyan nurse who has been appointed Deputy Chief Nurse in UK’s National Health Service, urging those traveling to the UK to remain Kenya’s ambassadors.

He said the agreement between the Kenyan and UK governments further allows for a smooth partnership in many other perspectives in the health sector including education and continuous professional development.

Speaking during the ceremony, British High Commissioner to Kenya Jane Marriot said the flag-off was a key milestone in the implementation of the health workforce collaboration agreement.

“While Kenyan nurses and healthcare workers in general, in general, have worked in the NHS for decades, today marks the beginning of a new era of international recruitment of Kenyan nurses to the UK through a government-to-government arrangement.” Said Marriot.

She said the arrangement will expand beyond
nurses to other cadres of healthcare workers adding that Kenya should put in place a system of rolling applications to meet the expected high demand.

Among those present during the ceremony were Health PS Susan Mochache and Acting Director-General for Heath Dr. Patrick Amoth.

The agreement between Kenya and the UK on the recruitment of the Health workforce was signed by President Uhuru Kenyatta and the UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson in January 2021.

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