‘We are very much up to the task and ready to take this Maternal Newborn Child Health Bill forward. This bill will also benefit from the current debates that the county is having on the Nakuru County Medical Services Bill and hopefully we will leave this as a legacy and gift to the people of Nakuru’
Hon Njuguna Mwaura, Chairperson, Nakuru County Assembly Health Committee.
These were the sentiments of the Nakuru County Assembly Health Committee members as they perused the proposed Nakuru County Maternal Newborn Child Health Bill. The forum, which was hosted by Kenya Medical Association on 16 March 2018 in Nakuru, brought together medical doctors working in the county, members of the County Assembly Health Committee as well as principles from the County Executive led by the Nakuru County Director of Medical Services (CDMS), Dr. Solomon Sirma.
The objective of this forum was to re-introduce the revised Nakuru Maternal Newborn Child Health Bill to members of the County Assembly in an effort to encourage them to legislate on the same. Nakuru County remains one of the leading counties in maternal mortality and thus exemplifies the need for the county to be at the forefront of legislating on these issues. The bill makes provision for the regulation of maternal and child health rights in the county, promoting respectful and dignified reproductive health including emergency obstetric care.
During the forum, KELIN, which has been offering supportive legal assistance to the county in the re-drafting of the bill, advised the legislative team to evaluate the contents of the bill in light of the Health Act 2017, which may eventually affect some of the clauses in the bill. KELIN further encouraged the county to remain guided by the existing national policies and legal frameworks on issues such as HIV & AIDS, rights of minors in medical treatment, and access to contraceptives by adolescents.
KELIN remains hopeful that the County Assembly Health Committee will, in the exercise of their mandate, spearhead the enactment of laws that are supportive and create a conducive environment for the protection of health related rights.
To contribute to the discussions on this forum, follow KELIN on our social media platforms: @KELINKenya
For more information please contact;
Tabitha Griffith Saoyo
Deputy Executive Director
Kenya Legal and Ethical Issues Network on HIV & AIDS (KELIN)
4th Floor, Somak Building, Mombasa Road Tel +254202515790;
Email: tsaoyo@kelinkenya.org
