“Unless we approach the issues of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by recognising that every citizen has a right to health and must be empowered to engage, contribute and question the decision making processes by the relevant duty bearers on matters affecting them, we will not make significant headway in meeting Kenya’s Universal Health care challenge”.
These were the reflections of Allan Maleche, KELIN’s executive director during his presentation at the inaugural Universal Health Care conference held in Makueni County from 4th to 5th April 2018. The meeting, whose theme was, “Meeting Kenya’s universal health care challenge,” was organised by Amref Health Africa, Makueni County and Kenya Vision 2030. It brought together over 500 stakeholders in the health sector including governors, legislators, policy makers, healthcare workers, development partners, researchers, civil society, community members and the media.
Mr. Maleche called upon policy makers to reflect on the following four critical questions with their citizens as adopted from a summary guide by the Office of the High Commission on Human rights policy brief:
- What are the problems in the health sector? To whom and where are these problems?
- Why are they happening?
- Who or what institution is responsible for taking action?
- What corrective (remedial) actions based on the responses to the questions above shall be taken to rectify the situation?
Maleche urged the policy makers to adopt a human rights based approach to health programming. This is an approach that goes beyond the right to health and seeks to ensure human rights principles inform all stages of programming including; law and policy making; designing and implementing programmes; and monitoring and evaluation. Some of the human rights principles, which are reflected in Article 10 of the Constitution include: non-discrimination, indivisibility, universality, equality, accountability and the rule of law. This approach would not only allow citizens to claim their rights but it would also support governments to fulfill their obligations.
At the end of his presentation, Mr. Maleche challenged the governors of Makueni and Laikipia County to undertaken an independent audit of their health facilities in the area of sexual reproductive health, maternal health and under five child health, to assess whether they would meet the internationally accepted requirements of availability, accessibility, acceptability and quality.
Going forward KELIN will develop a position paper to be presented to the Cabinet Secretary of health and the Chairperson of the health committee of the Council of Governors to consider carrying out similar audits at the National and County level health facilities.
To contribute to the discussion and for live updates follow KELIN on our social media platforms: Twitter: @KELINkenya and using hashtag #UniversalHealthCareKE
For more information contact:
Allan Maleche
Executive Director
Kenya Legal and Ethical Issues Network on HIV & AIDS (KELIN)
4th Floor, Somak Building, Mombasa Road Tel +254202515790;
Email:amaleche@kelinkenya.org
