Health

In 2020, all WHO Member States endorsed the Road Map for Neglected Tropical Diseases 2021–2030, which set a global target of freeing 100 countries from at least one NTD by 2030. With less than five years remaining, 57 countries have successfully eliminated at least one disease, including Burundi and Senegal. Senegal was declared free of trachoma by WHO in July 2025.

Behind her, a huge pile of garbage lies. It used to be a collection point. The ground is slick with mud and rotting waste. The air is heavy with the stench of decay and sewage. Yet this is where people live, where families cook meals and where babies take their first steps.

But two new studies published today show that people taking these drugs may have a small increased risk of serious eye conditions and vision loss.

Wangari explains that brown rice, a whole grain, contains the bran, germ and endosperm, making it naturally higher in fibre, magnesium, phosphorus, vitamin B and antioxidants.

The launch coincided with a three-day free medical and surgical camp, which provided consultations, wellness check-ups, and health education to nearly 2,000 people in the area.

The money, generated from patient fees, pharmacy sales, laboratory services, outpatient visits, and inpatient care, was supposed to be deposited into the County Revenue Fund (CRF) for accountability before being spent.

The growing wave of Mpox infections poses an increasing risk to Kenya, as delayed vaccination efforts and overstretched healthcare systems leave vulnerable populations exposed.

Despite significant progress in reducing child mortality globally, neonatal mortality, the death of babies within the first 28 days of life, remains stubbornly high in sub-Saharan Africa.

Leading insurance companies had temporarily suspended services at the hospital, citing a sharp increase in treatment costs that followed the hospital’s brief rate adjustment.

Keprecon Chief Executive Director Fred Were underscored the urgency of investing directly in health systems instead of spending millions on international travel.

Speaking at the Devolution Conference 2025, Dr Oluga stressed the importance of mapping all Kenyans who require assistive technology to ensure that interventions reach those in need.

Rural and Urban Private Hospitals Association of Kenya (RUPHA) said the government had failed to honour President William Ruto’s March 5 directive to pay facilities owed Sh10 million or less in full, and to carry out a structured verification process for larger claims.

A spot check by The Eastleigh Voice revealed widespread confusion over whether “free” primary healthcare truly includes diagnostic tests and essential medicines or just consultations.

While children mourn the loss of their mother, the father must carry his own pain while stepping into the immense role of caring for a newborn, raising other children, and navigating a future clouded by grief.

26.7 percent of the young mothers reported being shouted at, insulted, or mocked—forms of verbal abuse that can leave deep emotional scars.

KNH Chief Executive Officer William Sigilai said the patient, who had received a kidney from her brother, was diagnosed with kidney failure in 2022 and had been on regular haemodialysis at a private facility.

Last month, the hospital announced price hikes of up to 61 per cent on key services such as scans, ultrasounds, and bed charges, citing rising operational costs, including escalating pharmaceutical and medical supply prices.

In Kenya, exclusive breastfeeding rates for infants under six months have stalled at around 60 per cent for the past decade—below the 70 per cent global target—putting an estimated 500,000 babies at risk annually.

Private hospitals are increasingly rejecting SHA coverage for civil servants and demanding cash payments, a repeat of the NHIF era when delayed payments caused service disruptions, leaving behind a Sh33 billion debt now passed on to SHA.

The results were clear: patients lost significant weight during treatment, but most began regaining it as early as eight weeks after stopping. The rebound typically continued for around 20 weeks before stabilising.

This follows the announcement by eight leading insurance companies of a temporary suspension of their services at Nairobi Hospital, citing a sharp increase in treatment costs.

KUPHA described the SHA model as flawed and financially unstable, highlighting a sharp drop in revenue despite increased premiums.

The firms involved include Madison Insurance, First Assurance, Minet, Old Mutual, Britam, AAR, CIC, and Pacis Insurance.

Sleeping sickness, often called the “silent killer” of rural areas, begins with symptoms such as fever and headaches before progressing to confusion and severe neurological issues. Without treatment, victims would eventually fall into a deep, irreversible coma, from which many never recovered.

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale stated that the action follows a comprehensive audit and forensic review of claims submitted by facilities flagged for suspicious billing practices.

The research, conducted by the Arctic University of Norway (UiT), found that the risk of breast, ovarian, and uterine cancer decreases by approximately 10 percent with each childbirth.

Between weeks 11 and 13, a woman should undergo comprehensive screening, including an ultrasound to monitor foetal development and determine gestational age.

The seven-year programme is designed to equip national and county health facilities with state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment technologies, such as CT scanners, dialysis units, and modern laboratory systems.

Should the strike proceed, it threatens to shut down public hospitals, including Kenyatta National Hospital and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, jeopardising healthcare access for millions of Kenyans.

The Principal Secretary for Medical Services, Dr Ouma Oluga said the transition constitutes continued service rather than termination, which is the legal basis for gratuity payouts.

The move signals a broader shift in US federal vaccine development priorities.

The creation of the US President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (Pepfar) in 2003 was at the time the largest-ever bilateral programme to combat a single disease.

The Health CS described the crackdown as part of a wider plan to strengthen Kenya’s healthcare delivery, calling for full cooperation from hospital managers and boards.

The findings come from a joint study by the African Institute for Development Policy and Global Solutions for Diagnostics and Laboratory Systems.

The 2022 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey shows that 15 per cent of girls aged 15–19 have been pregnant. The rate increases sharply with age, rising from 3 per cent at age 15 to 31 per cent by age 19.

He encouraged citizens to report hospitals and clinics that continue to demand payments for outpatient care, saying they are undermining the government's efforts to deliver accessible healthcare to all.

According to the Health ministry, the internship policy guidelines stipulate that only students who have formally graduated and received clearance from relevant regulatory bodies are eligible for placement.

The Ministry of Health’s surveillance team has also begun retracing the patient’s movements from Mathira back to Nairobi in a bid to establish further exposure risks and contain the spread of the disease.

According to CS Duale, the biometric system will serve as a game-changer in tackling fraud, reducing paperwork, eliminating queues and enabling health workers to dedicate more time to patient care.

The changes, eliminated maternity and inpatient bed allocations for all Level 2 hospitals, including those with functional maternity units, and for Level 3 facilities that do not operate theatres.

In Kenya, ten women die every day from postpartum haemorrhage—lives lost in delivery rooms and hospital wards, their names fading into statistics.

In 2023, Kenya-based pharmaceutical company Universal Corporation Ltd became the first African manufacturer to receive World Health Organisation (WHO) prequalification to produce tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, lamivudine and dolutegravir (TLD) – a first-line antiretroviral therapy for HIV.

Initially grieving in silence, Omondi eventually turned to the internet to share his raw, honest story—and was met with an outpouring of unexpected messages.

The changes come after the July 11 murder of a patient at KNH, which triggered public outrage and raised questions about the safety of patients in referral facilities across the country.

Currently, Africa reports just under 74,000 liver cancer cases annually, with projections indicating this number will exceed 181,000 by 2050. In Kenya alone, at least 2,237 people aged 15 to 85 are expected to die each year from liver cancer by mid-century, primarily due to rising alcohol use among young adults.

The new framework is intended to standardise the detection and management of H. pylori infections across the country. It is currently under final review for formal adoption by the Ministry of Health.

Senators said the practice amounts to a serious breach of public trust and has contributed to the worsening state of healthcare in the country.

Experts recommend being alert to the following changes in your saliva or mouth: Persistent dry mouth or bad breath, difficulty swallowing, sudden increase in drooling or saliva pooling, unusual or metallic taste and mouth ulcers or frequent infections.

Demand for drugs, including weight-loss injections, is sending people to dangerous places to get their medicine. But spotting dodgy marketplaces is not easy.

The CS confirmed that the process should conclude by next week, after which qualified personnel will be employed on permanent and pensionable terms.