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{
    "id": 1033354,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1033354/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 343,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Wajir South, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Mohamed Mohamud",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13506,
        "legal_name": "Mohamud Sheikh Mohammed",
        "slug": "mohamud-sheikh-mohammed"
    },
    "content": "within our borders. That is one of the things that I want to touch on; that is national security. I am quite happy that national security is improving, and it is at a stage where we can say that we are quite comfortable for progress in this nation. The President touched on socio-economic and health challenges. Those are issues that touched Kenyans over the last few months through the better part of this year. We have had considerable number of socio-economic challenges as well as healthcare challenges. The President highlighted that we have realised a 5 per cent economic growth in this country despite the challenges that we have had. This is something to be happy about. Let me touch on something I know very well – the issue of health. Having been in the medical field since 1989, I am in a position to say that the state of our healthcare services is in the doldrums. It is absolutely in the dark ages at this particular time. Despite being a country that is considered a middle-income by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, we face challenges in terms of healthcare. Let me be categorical, COVID-19 is considered a pandemic, and what pandemic means scientifically is a disease that is found across the globe. It started as an epidemic and went to pandemic, and it is going to be endemic. Let us face it. What endemic means is that this is a disease that is going to be there forever. Endemic means a disease that is found within particular locality, and it is a disease that we are going to be living with. Therefore, our plan should not be short-term – running after Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) only. That is not enough. What is required is a strategy that will salvage this country from the scourge of such pandemics and this endemic condition. I would stand to say, as an epidemiologist, that this is going to become an endemic condition – a condition that is going to stay with us forever. What we also need to understand is the plight of doctors. As a Member of the Departmental Committee on Health, I was there yesterday when my colleagues broke into tears. It touched every one of us that our doctors and the entire health personnel do not have health coverage. Universal health coverage is one thing that the President has launched. I was privileged to be there in Mombasa a couple of weeks ago when it was launched. However, what I want to emphasize is that health coverage for health personnel and poor people is something that needs to be worked on. Health coverage or insurance is one thing, but the facilities are not adequate. We are prepared to face it, and we have to face it with all our resources mobilized towards supporting communities that are going to face that. I also applaud the President on the mental health specialized centre of Mathari. That is a very good thing that he has pointed out because the mental health status of our people is also in a serious situation. With those remarks, I support."
}