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{
    "id": 1156719,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1156719/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 292,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Bumula, Independent",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Mwambu Mabongah",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13309,
        "legal_name": "Moses Wekesa Mwambu Mabonga",
        "slug": "moses-wekesa-mwambu-mabonga-2"
    },
    "content": "Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, this Bill does not in any way delegate legislative powers, neither does it limit fundamental rights and freedoms of any citizen. The Bill concerns county governments in terms of Article 110(1) of the Constitution as it affects the functions and powers of the county governments as set under part two of the Fourth Schedule of the Constitution. I wish to bring to your attention that the enactment of this Bill will definitely occasion additional expenditure of public funds. However, even if money is going to be involved in this Bill, in Section 5 of No. 21 of 2017 of the principal Act, I propose the following amendment: “Every person has the right to the highest attainable standard of health which shall include progressive access for provision of promotive, preventive, creative, palliative and rehabilitative services.” It is in the Constitution and it is the responsibility of every government to ensure that her citizens enjoy this kind of benefits in all health facilities. We should not be waiting for emergencies so that we act. I am sure that it is only in this country that some things happen. If I may refer to what is happening now in this country about fuel: Parliament discussed it before the Cabinet Secretary of Energy came out to address the nation. The Government is waiting for such a thing to become an emergency so that it can come out with a long statement to address the nation. It is important that we put some measures in place so that we curb this kind of problems that many citizens are going through at the moment. “Every person shall have the right to be treated with dignity, respect and have their privacy respected in accordance with the constitution and this Act.” When we talk of dignity, you and I have insurance covers that can take us to some medical facilities that the common mwananchi cannot access. The Government talks of the national insurance cover but if you go to the villages today, you will be surprised. Some of those cards have been given to old mamas and men in the village who do not know how to use them. When they go for medication in any facility, they realise that some of those cards have no money. I have such cases. That is conmanship in the Government systems. We must bring that to an end. “The national and county governments shall ensure the provision of free and compulsory— (a) vaccination for children under five years of age; and (b) maternity care.” These things are in the Constitution but how can we enforce them? If you go to the clinics in the village, the people in charge ask for fees. That is why some of our children die at a young age because they are not given the attention they require. The mothers in the House, maternity care should be provided for free in all our medical facilities, especially public facilities. For the purpose of implementing Subsection (3), the national Government shall in consultation with the respective county governments provide funds for the county governments to implement the amendments that I have just proposed. In Section 7 of No. 21 of 2017, I propose to amend and have that every person has the right to emergency medical treatment. We have private and public medical facilities. If you walk to the emergency areas of our public hospitals or private health facilities, you will be shocked. Is there a way that we can ensure that when an accident happens, you can run to a facility and get emergency services? One time, on a Sunday, I had a patient who was close to me, I walked into one of the big hospitals – I do not want to mention the hospital – and their credit card machines were not working. Therefore, my ATM card could not work but they demanded payment before they could attend to my patient. I almost lost the patient at that very point. This proposal is in the law and we want to re-enforce it. Anybody who denies a person emergency services and deliberately refuses to The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}