Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 1276169,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1276169/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 230,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Mumma",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "The official data that illustrates pregnancy records is conspicuously absent, thus undermining the deterrence against defilement within families, schools and religious institutions. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, aware that adolescents encounter distinct health risks arising from social cultural factors tied to biological and emotional changes of adolescents, including substance abuse, harmful traditions like child marriages, female genital mutilation, mental health concerns, sexual reproductive health and communicable diseases such as HIV among others. Our health system must adapt to enable accessibility to health services by adolescents. Expressing the concerns over the plight of many children, particularly girls who face defilement, rape, sexual harassment and physical abuse within their social and cultural context, these challenges can and have led to child and teenage pregnancies. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, acknowledging that adolescent health and rights intersect with various sectors, demanding collaborative efforts from Government entities such as the Education Sector, the Health Sector, the Children’s Services, Social Protection, Gender, Law and Justice as well as Private Sector, Families Religious Organisations, I respectfully implore this honourable House to rise up and be the one that will truly represent the rights of adolescents; one that must hold the national and county governments accountable by requiring them to integrate the perspectives and experiences of adolescents when designing healthcare systems dedicated to their welfare. Presently, our healthcare framework chiefly revolves around infants and adults. It does not take care of adolescents. I, therefore, call upon the Senate Standing Committee on Health to convene in recognition of the different components that comprise the health and rights of adolescents an audience with Cabinet Secretaries in charge of Health, Education, and Internal Security from the national Government and the Council of Governors, with a view to doing the following- (1) To urgently initiate a national conversation and consultation that shall relay the development of a comprehensive national policy on adolescent health and related rights with a view– (a) to integrate age appropriate sex education and life skills learning into the Kenyan education system, guided by science, evidence of social-cultural dynamics and the values of our Constitution; (b) to incorporate a specialized field in adolescent medicine within the Medical Training Institutions and health care facilities, enabling professionals to focus on delivering comprehensive care tailored specifically to the unique health needs of adolescents; (c) to revise the Kenya demographic and health survey data collection parameters to encompass data from children who have entered puberty. This adjustment is crucial in light of substantial evidence indicating a concerning number of pregnancies among children aged 10 to 14 years; (d) to review the Universal Health Coverage and National Health Insurance Fund Regulations, to ensure adolescents access cost-free health care services, specifically,"
}