Kenya -- Health
Many
illnesses in Kenya are transmitted
by insects and animals, and by the
use of contaminated water for washing
and drinking. The situation is compounded
by the relatively common lack of
understanding of sanitary principles,
by malnutrition--which both causes
specific disabilities and lowers
resistance--and by AIDS. Infectious
respiratory diseases and malaria
account for a majority of illnesses
and deaths. Malaria remains a major
health risk despite long-standing
programs to control its spread,
including spraying of mosquito-infested
areas and free distribution of antimalaria
prophylaxis. Other common illnesses
include tuberculosis, dysentery,
and parasitic and venereal diseases.
Filariasis, transmitted by a bite
from an infected black fly, mosquito,
or mangrove fly is common in coastal
regions. Kala-azar (visceral leishmaniasis),
transmitted by the bite of an infected
sand fly, is a serious health problem
in certain northern areas. Sleeping
sickness, transmitted by tsetse
flies, is a problem particularly
in the Lambwe valley and the Samia
area in Busia District of Nyanza
Province.
Measles
is a problem that especially afflicts
young children. Other leading causes
of infant mortality are gastroenteritis,
colitis, kwashiorkor, tetanus, and
whooping cough. Anemia, due to protein
deficiency, is widespread. Vitamin
A deficiency, various parasitic
infections, and trachoma, which
causes blindness, are also common
in Kenya, as are skin diseases.
Fortunately, epidemic diseases,
such as smallpox and cholera, have
largely been controlled.
Since
independence, the Ministry of Health
has been charged with the principal
responsibility for providing health
services. Its functions include
devising health policy; planning,
organizing and administrating central
health services; training health
care practitioners; coordinating
activities with other government
departments and non-governmental
agencies; and complying with international
health regulations. Additional medical
services are provided by private
organizations and church groups.
Many
Kenyans also use traditional methods
of diagnosis and treatment. There
is widespread belief that illness
and death are caused by malevolent
spirits or angry ancestors, or are
the result of the conscious or unconscious
misconduct of the sick person or
a member of their family. Traditional
cures involve finding the cause
of afflictions through divination
as well as restoring the social
equilibrium brought on by the affliction
through magical acts and sacrifice.[1]
The
AIDS virus arrived late in Kenya
compared with nearby countries like
Uganda. Increasingly, the Kenyan
government has made allowances for
AIDS in preparing development plans.
In October 1996, the government
reported that a total of 65,000
AIDS sufferers had sought hospital
care. According to a report released
in May 1994 by the Ministry of Health,
a total of 130,000 cases had been
documented. 1994-96 development
plans forecast that the HIV-infected
population in Kenya would rise from
448,000 in 1990 to 1.27 million
by 1996, and that the AIDS-related
deaths would increase from 20,000
to 80,000 in the same period.
Since
the 1960s, Kenya has given priority
to improving basic health services.
This
improvement, together with growth
in average income, has resulted
in a better overall quality of life
for most Kenyans. Official figures
give a total of 3,058 health institutions
in 1996, up from 2,925 just the
previous year. The health sector's
share of central government expenditure
rose from 5% in 1995/96 to 7% in
1996/97.[2]
Since
1989, Kenya has reduced government
commitment to public health through
selective privatization. In December
1989, the Ministry of Health introduced
a cost-recovery program known as
the Facility Improvement Fund, which
covers fees for inpatient and outpatient
services at all hospitals and health
centers. Kenyans are encouraged
to make better use of health centers
and dispensaries and so to relieve
demand on hospitals for services.
[1]
Kaplan, Irving & et.al. 1976.
Area Handbook for Kenya, Second
Ed., U.S.
Government
Printing Office: Washington, D.C.
pp. 136-142.
[2]
The Economist Intelligence Unit,
1998, Country Profile. Kenya, The
Unit:
London,
pp.19-20.