Cabinet Secretary for Health Dr. Cleopa Mailu has assured Kenyans that the government is determined to ensure that they access quality health services as mandated by the constitution. Speaking during the health summit at Statehouse, he highlighted some of the initiatives the government has put in place to improve the sector.
“Three years ago, the Jubilee government promised Kenyans good health services and now Kenyans, especially women, can access free maternity services in all public health places and the government has been allocating Kshs 4.2 billion annually to finance health services in the country,” he said.
He said the number of women accessing maternal services has doubled from 600,000 to 1.2 million and also the percentage of women who have embraced the use of contraceptive methods of birth control has increased from46%- 56%, “The number of women accessing maternity services has doubled hence reducing cases of maternal deaths in the country,” he noted.
He further said the government is using Kshs 900million annually to facilitate dispensaries and treatment centers to reduce the high tally of people who have been seeking services in more equipped and referral centers.
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Concerning child care, the Cabinet Secretary said most diseases that have been leading to infant mortality can be controlled through vaccination and the government is keen to ensure that children are vaccinated and free mosquito nets are issued to children as a prevention vice against malaria infection. Apart from that, he said the rate of HIV transmission from mothers to their children has reduced as a result of free medical services offered by the government.
He also highlighted that cancer treatment has been made cheap through the determination of the government to ensure that satellite centers are established in each region to reduce the cost of services. He said all services are geared to keep the promises the government gave to Kenyans.
