HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept
{
"id": 1031811,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1031811/?format=api",
"text_counter": 103,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen.(Dr.) Mbito",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "and Poisons Board, Kenya Bureau of Standards (KeBS), Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Kenya AIDS Vaccine initiative and the Kenya Medical Laboratory Technicians Board. (2)Representative health worker groups including unions and professional associations at the county and branch level, nurses, doctors, clinical officers, allied workers, et cetera. (3)Private sector representatives including Kenya Health Federation. The aforementioned series of meetings are set to take place this week on Thursday, 19th, November, 2020 through to next week, Thursday, 26th, November, 2020. Consequently, the Committee will table a comprehensive report on the current COVID-19 pandemic situation in the country before the House goes on recess. For purposes of informing the House, kindly allow me to state that the aforementioned series of COVID-19 related meetings do not represent the beginning, but rather a continuation of consultative meetings the Committee on Health has already commenced in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic. Just last week, on Thursday, 12th November, 2020, the Committee met with the Ministry of Health to deliberate the current COVID-19 situation in the country, non- payment of COVID-19 related claims by the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) and the status of the COVID-19 in correctional facilities in our country. The Committee has already met with the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government in relation to escalating cases of COVID-19 in correctional facilities across the country. Mr. Speaker, Sir, as may have already been made clear by now, the current COVID-19 pandemic situation is a matter that the Standing Committee on Health under my leadership has and will continue to take very seriously. As I conclude, in light of the rising risk of exposure to COVID-19, I wish to appeal to the leadership and Members of this House, as the Senate of Kenya, to lead by example. Until such a time as the current numbers of COVID-19 cases begin to decline or a vaccine is found, I appeal for the immediate cessation of all Committee activities that require physical participation of Members and staff. These include, but are not related to physical Committee meetings, visits to counties, retreats, et cetera . I also appeal directly to my fellow Kenyans. We must not minimize or underestimate the threat that faces us today. While the pandemic may seem like a remote problem to many of us, we will do well to learn lessons from other countries whose people similarly downplayed the COVID-19 pandemic and failed to take the necessary precautions. Aside from the measures that must and should be taken by the Government, we all have a personal responsibility to contain the speared of COVID-19 by practicing social distancing, hand hygiene, limiting social gatherings and correctly and consistently using face masks. While on the surface, these may seem, like simple things, they may make a difference between life and death. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir."
}