Senators demand urgent Ministry of Health action on child deaths from drug-resistant infections
The legislators faulted weak regulation, poor diagnostic systems and inadequate medical infrastructure in Kenya as among issues accelerating the misuse of antibiotics and leaving children increasingly vulnerable to drug-resistant infections.
Senators have demanded action from the Ministry of Health over rising child deaths linked to antimicrobial resistance (AMR), warning that misuse of critical drugs is fuelling a national health crisis.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites no longer respond to antimicrobial agents.
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As a result of drug resistance, antibiotics and other antimicrobial agents become ineffective and infections become difficult or impossible to treat, increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death.
The legislators faulted weak regulation, poor diagnostic systems and inadequate medical infrastructure in Kenya as among issues accelerating the misuse of antibiotics and leaving children increasingly vulnerable to drug-resistant infections.
Nominated Senator Hamida Kibwana highlighted the urgent issue during a session on Thursday, seeking a statement from the Senate Committee on Health on the growing threat of AMR in Kenya and across Africa. She revealed that in 2022, more than 659,000 children across the continent died from infections resistant to antibiotics.
“Antibiotics meant to be used cautiously are being misused. This misuse comes from weak regulation, poor diagnostic systems and insufficient medical infrastructure. It’s a crisis threatening our healthcare system and our national development,” Senator Kibwana said.
Kenya’s surveillance systems
The senator called on the Health Committee to provide an update on Kenya’s surveillance systems against antimicrobial resistance, questioning their effectiveness in monitoring and controlling the spread of drug-resistant infections.
She also urged the Ministry of Health to outline measures taken to regulate the prescription of critical antibiotics, particularly for children, to prevent further misuse.
Kibwana stressed the importance of Kenya fully implementing the WHO’s recommended National Action Plan on AMR.
She emphasised the need for improved diagnostic capabilities, comprehensive training for healthcare workers, and intensified public awareness campaigns to curb the misuse of antibiotics and protect vulnerable populations.
Her call came as the Senate intensified its focus on the health sector’s capacity to respond to emerging threats and protect children from preventable deaths linked to antibiotic resistance.
Drug resistance challenge
Last year, Kenya launched its first comprehensive system to monitor the consumption of antimicrobial drugs, including antibiotics and antifungals. The initiative aimed to address the growing challenge of drug resistance, which threatens the effectiveness of treatments for various infections.
The Kenya Surveillance System for Antimicrobial Consumption was officially introduced in Nairobi by the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB).
Dr Fred Siyoi, head of the PPB, explained that before this, Kenya did not have a national system to track how antimicrobial drugs are used across the country.
He stressed the importance of effective surveillance in understanding patterns of antimicrobial consumption and their connection to emerging resistance trends.
According to the WHO, approximately 5 million deaths are associated with bacterial AMR every year.
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