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{
"id": 1056839,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1056839/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. (Dr.) Mwaura",
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"speaker": {
"id": 13129,
"legal_name": "Isaac Maigua Mwaura",
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"content": "Bill is a money Bill and, therefore, taxing the Exchequer to ensure that that charge actually sees light of day; we need to discuss. Madam Temporary Speaker, if we are to provide these stipends, would they resolve the problem? Do we need over and above the stipends to make sure we put in place administrative measures within the said hospitals and medical facilities? That is whether it is inpatient or outpatient. This will cushion this patient from the time that he or she is diagnosed to the time they are able to manage it. There is also the issue of early detection because most of the time when we talk about cancer, it is sometimes discovered at Stage Three or Four. At that time, it is too late to provide any solution, and then we end up losing our great Kenyans. I just heard my senior, Sen. (Dr.) Ochillo-Ayacko, talking about how an oncology doctor also succumbed to the same. You do not know who is next. It is basically preparing our safety strategy. We, in Parliament, are very privileged because we have a comprehensive medical insurance. However, it also gets exhausted. I exhausted my medical insurance sometime back and had to apply for ex-gratia for other things, not cancer. That means that we are also not safe. We are here today, but what about tomorrow when we will no longer be parliamentarians for whatever reason? We need to think about this issue. I would want to encourage the sponsor of this Motion, my colleague, the Senator representing Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), Dr. Getrude Musuruve, that she should think further in terms of a Bill. Even if it is a money Bill or even if you have to co- sponsor it with somebody from the National Assembly, it is important that we start this process. The Bill should not just be about us making the text here, it should speak to the realities of how cancer treatment is currently being administered, with a view to addressing such loopholes, so then there is a similar transfer of the treatment procedure. This will ensure that at end of it, we do not lose people because we did not have money, there were not enough doctors and what have you. It is incomprehensive. As we are dong what we call fiscal consolidation and budget restructuring, it is important to move away from the core infrastructural projects to soft issues that affect the people. If you tell people not to deal with the social issues, it is like telling them not to eat, so that tomorrow, they buy a plane. I do not think that it makes sense. We have got to ensure that we address the issues, so that before people walk on good roads, they are healthy, can smile, speak about their wellbeing and contribute to society because in any country, the best resource is the human resource. Madam Temporary Speaker, we can speak a lot about it, but I want to imagine that the Mover or the sponsor is actually listening to our contributions. Yes, indeed, this can be the beginning of finding a lasting solution to the many problems that affect those of us who have found themselves as Kenyans with various forms of cancer. Madam Temporary Speaker, I support."
}