Nutrition, Diet and Health Tips

We cannot have SUSTAINED economic growth/ development without a well established health system.

Health sector is a key pillar of development. It is a critical indicator of functionality of systems and productivity of the population which are key to economic growth.

Kenya as a developing country has had a myriad of challenges when it comes to health care from understaffing, poor renumeration to embezzlement & corruption. In the health sector, we are yet to achieve what I’d call sanity in our health system.

Poor governance, selfish interests and lack of accountability and integrity are some of the main challenges that affect the health care system negatively.

So what exactly can you do as an individual to help in brings sanity to this very critical sector?

✅ As citizens, we have the right to access the highest quality and standards when it comes to health care. When you go to your local dispensary and the pharmacy cannot dispense drugs because they don’t have a pharmacist or the drugs themselves, as you leave the hospital ask for the suggestion box and write a complaint on the same.

‘But the hospital management can discard my concern?’ Yes they can, but when it’s from 5/10 more people, it will ‘catch’ the needed attention.

✅ The second thing we can do is stop with the nonsense we’ve inherited from our grandparents that is tribalism & Nepotism that has us electing incompetent leaders who have no clue on how to run things. If it’s crooked from the top, it’ll be crooked at the health centres.

Functional leaders with plans to move the country forward should be our priority as citizens.

✅ The next thing that you can do is help health care workers fight for better terms. Kenyans have this notion that healthcare workers are selfish and they should just show up to work irregardles of the terms and conditions and offer services. After all they took an oath to serve right?

But remember that you cannot pour from an empty cup. We have healthcare workers offering services without pay. I am the National Treasurer of the Kenya Union of Nutritionists and Dietitians and I can say with authority that the ministry is ‘comfortable’ having Nutrition interns working for 12 months without a single dime. You get to wonder how are they expected to survive for the period?

Another thing we have health workers on shady terms and contracts. The back and forth of the relevant stakeholders in health care that is the Ministry of Health, The Council of Governors and the Public Service Commission has the UHC staffs and the disbanded NMS working without a clear direction about their fate.

Remember I said you cannot pour from an empty cup right? Health care workers are in constant stress, delayed payments, delayed promotion, contract’s that are not favourable, no Risk allowances and more. As Kenyans we need to protect our Health care workers by helping us push the agenda.

If more health workers are deployed, Better terms of service for Kenyans, Improved infrastructure and working conditions, we will surely win as a nation.

That was it from today, thank you for stepping by and until next time, I sign out with love 😘.

Lilian Mumina ❤️

Registered Dietitian

National Treasurer – Kenya Union of Nutritionists and Dietetians