HEALTH IS WEALTH
Every aspect of Kenya revolves around good healthcare. For the economy to thrive good health is paramount. For the happiness index to rise there must be good health. For mental health to thrive good health is needed. We thus must do everything to maintain good health by preventing disease. Should disease occur we must be adequately prepared to deal with it. It is during stable times that we need to build up our health capacity. Building health capacity must a deliberate effort. Health capacity constitutes primary healthcare, that is mainly preventive and promotive, and curative healthcare that constitutes treatment and rehabilitation. Primary healthcare requires a strong disease need surveillance system. Curative healthcare requires well equipped health facilities that are staffed with adequately trained and motivated staff.
UNIVERSAL HEALTH COVERAGE
The coronavirus (Covid-19) threat has revealed the underbelly of the Kenyan health system. That we can declare that we are not ready to handle an epidemic should it arise speaks volumes of the need to ensure that Kenya continuously strengthens the health sector. The declaration of Universal Health Coverage as one of the Big 4 major agenda of the current government should have spurred a long-term policy document aimed at strengthening the health sector in the long run. The policy document should have spelt out the human resources and the equipment and consumables necessary for UHC to work. Unfortunately, the current models are revolving around procurement of pharmaceuticals and limited health financing via the NHIF. Ideally a tax-funded, public-led, public-driven UHC would be the way to go. Emergency preparedness and ability to deal with the ever-present infectious diseases should be a big chapter in UHC.
HEALTH SERVICE COMMISSION
The coronavirus scare has already demonstrated that should an epidemic arise, then Kenya does not have the necessary human resource personnel ready on the go to manage it. It has been suggested repeatedly that a Human Resource management body commonly referred to as the Health Service Commission (HSC) would address the human resources for health issue. With a HSC, rapid mobilization of medical professionals to deal with epidemics would be much easier.
DEVOLUTION OF HEALTH
Secondly the true spirit of devolution of health was to have the counties manage primary health constituting disease prevention via management of water, waste and housing and other public health interventions that would cumulatively prevent diseases, especially infectious diseases. The counties were expected to invest in disease surveillance and prevention. The national government was supposed to handle curative health by ensuring that all health facilities have the necessary personnel and equipment to the highest possible standards. The national government was to ensure the blood transfusion services were functional and that the health referral system was functional. If this were done, then the coronavirus threat would be handled better. There possibly would be centers of excellence including laboratories of major hospitals capable of testing for coronavirus and possibly there would be provisions of major isolation areas complete with transport arrangements in case of epidemics. Coronavirus threat has actually revealed that no individual county can handle such an epidemic and that only a coordinated concerted effort from a central command would be efficient to control any outbreak.
AUTONOMY OF HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
The autonomy of technocrats has also been tested during this coronavirus threat. Public health blunders such as allowing a plane to land from the epicenter of an epidemic have been witnessed. This of course goes against all principles of epidemic prevention and management. Unpreparedness of staff at points of entry witnessed could easily be picked out and corrected by technocrats.
Moreover, priority should be given to the Ministry of Health in coordination against a possible disease outbreak. Ministry of Health on its part ought to mobilize all its stakeholders to aid in disease prevention and containment. Stakeholders include professional medical associations like the Kenya Medical Association, emergency teams like the Kenya Red Cross, private health facilities that may be having ready capabilities that may not be readily available in the public sector and many more.
The disease surveillance team and disaster management teams of the Ministry of Health should be well funded in preparation for taking the technical lead in the case of an epidemic. These professionals will give correct objective opinion and recommend measures to safeguard both the citizens and health professionals who will be at the forefront of fighting these diseases
SOVEREIGNTY AND DEBT
The coronavirus has also raised the question of sovereignty. He who calls the piper calls the tune, so the saying goes. The question of debt to China has been seen as a possible loophole that may compromise decisions regarding movement from the epicenter of the coronavirus. This may just be the wakeup call to Kenya to stop over-borrowing look for alternative ways of developing the country.
ROLE OF UNIONS
The coronavirus has also called upon the unions to perform their roles of unions. It is reported that the person who filmed and shared the video of the handling of the South China airlines was suspended as a disciplinary action. This happens more often than is reported. Innocent employees who witness gross mistakes and whistle blow may be victimized. Unfortunately, if left alone they are subject to harassment by employers. Unions should step up their mandate and protect their members. The unions of medical professionals must also speak out when decisions made by the political class would endanger their members. Health workers are on the frontline of medical care and are thus in most danger of contracting coronavirus should it make a Kenyan breakthrough. The unions must speak to protect their members.
WAKEUP CALL FOR KENYA HEALTH SYSTEM
The coronavirus threat thus serves as a wakeup call to Kenya to assess its health systems and strengthen them as Covid-19 will not be the last threat. Moreover, Kenyans deserve good quality healthcare the coronavirus threat is the wakeup call.