Browsing: Kenya’s ministry of health

In the past decade, Kenya has made tremendous advancements in increasing access to modern methods of contraception.

However, this has significantly reduced in the past year and experts are linking this downward trajectory to the recent global pandemic.

“In Kenya, contraceptives use among women of reproductive health has been on an upward trajectory from 37.2 percent in 2017/18 to 44 percent in 2019/2020. This rate has declined to 29.6% in 2020/21, due to disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.(KHIS, 2021),” said Dr. Patrick Amoth the chairperson of the World Health Organisation (WHO) executive board.

Data from the Ministry of Health shows that the percentage of married women using modern methods of family planning has increased from 36% in 2007 to 61% currently. This has helped curb rapid population growth and drive development.

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“With the COVID-19 pandemic upending lives across the world, …

Kenya remains at constant threat of measles and rubella outbreaks even at a time when the effects of Covid-19 crisis are being felt.   According to Health Chief Administrative Secretary, Dr. Mercy Mwangangi, Kenya has witnessed a series of outbreaks in several counties, among them Mandera, Wajir, Garissa, Westpokot and Tana River, over the last one year.

Caused by viruses, measles and rubella are highly infectious. Measles specifically, is the third most common cause of death among children from vaccine preventable diseases.

“Deaths are mainly due to complications – severe diarrhoea, pneumonia, ear infections (Otitis – media) with sometimes presence of pus from the ears, brain damage and blindness,” said Dr. Mwangangi. Rubella is also very highly infectious and can cause complications to new-borns such as birth defects.  There is no available treatment for measles and rubella, however, disease management with good nutrition and rehydration is purely supportive to prevent complications.…