Uasin gishu county: Public Health and Professional Standards Principal Secretary (PS) Mary Muthoni has emphasized the need for preventive measures in tackling diseases, urging Kenyans to prioritize handwashing and early health screening. Speaking during a women empowerment programme at Murgor primary school grounds in Kesses constituency, Muthoni noted that many illnesses spread because they were detected too late.
According to Kenya News Agency, the PS noted that the government, through the Community Health Promoters (CHPs) program, was offering household-level health services including blood pressure checks, diabetes screening, child health assessments, and referrals for hospital treatment. She further encouraged citizens to register with the Social Health Authority (SHA), cautioning against politicizing health issues. Muthoni pointed out that those discouraging registration often rely on private medical insurance abroad.
The state has cushioned registered citizens against extra costs, she added, noting that government hospitals at Level 2 and 3 are not supposed to charge patients who are already registered with SHA. At the same time, the PS raised concern over the rising inflow of illicit drugs into the country through various entry points. She condemned some unscrupulous traders for exposing school children to harmful substances such as narcotics, nicotine, and tobacco products, warning that such illicit products cause cancer and other life-threatening conditions that endanger the future of young people.
"The government will not tolerate the importation of nicotine and tobacco products that are killing our children," she warned. The PS stressed that diseases know no borders whether under the national or county governments and called on all Kenyans to play an active role in combating them. Muthoni reaffirmed that the government is working with county administrations to ensure hospitals operate effectively, insurance matters are well managed, and that every Kenyan receives quality healthcare.
She further emphasized that President Dr. William Ruto's administration is committed to its Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) for the country, aimed at ensuring better livelihoods for the people. The PS also highlighted the government's postgraduate training program for doctors, where medical graduates receive specialized skills before being deployed back to their counties to strengthen health services. "Efforts are also underway to increase the number and expertise of doctors through specialized training programs and their eventual deployment to counties," she added. The PS remarked that collaboration between the national and county governments remains vital in enhancing healthcare and insurance across the country.