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{
    "id": 1407831,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1407831/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 410,
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    "content": "when you talk about people with special needs that these are individuals with additional health needs and require assistance above the regular health needs at the general population. We are here referring to the people with mental illness, which are additional needs. We are talking about people who are psychologically challenged, marginalized and the disabled. There is a whole clarification of people with needs. When these people with special needs are pregnant, other than the fact that they could visit the health center, who follows them to ensure that they are getting the services that are required of them? Often in our urban centers, even small markets, you see even those who have mental challenges. By local standards, people call them mad for example, a mad woman but they are human. They get pregnant. Who ensures that this woman attends all her clinics? Who follows up on these special needs groups to ensure they visit the hospital for the entire period? This Bill talks refers to this group of people with special needs. In Clause five, Part Two, we are talking about the right to health services. I emphasize that this right, intimates that the services must be timely and appropriate to the person in need. The person must be treated in our health centers and health facilities with dignity, respect and privacy. Some of the rights to health services in this Bill include emergency treatment and essential medicine. They must be entitled to an attainable state of mental and physical health. This right to health services includes promotive, preventative, rehabilitative, and curative care. All these are spelled out in Clause Five. For the enjoyment of this right to maternal newborn and child health, some responsibilities are spelt out for the national and county governments. Health is a shared function; county governments have their role, and the national Government has theirs. These roles are spelt out in Clause 5(3)(a). It states that- “For the enjoyment of the right to maternal, newborn, and child health, the national and county governments shall- (a)respect, protect, and fulfill the right to maternal, newborn, and child health and guarantee mechanisms for its enforcement.\" Madam Temporary Speaker, Clause 6 spells out the services that must be given to non-pregnant women. Pregnancy is a noble occurrence, but there must be an environment that is conducive for that pregnancy. Clause 6 spells out some mandatory services that a non-pregnant woman is entitled to. They include but are not limited to preconception care services as may be prescribed from time to time and appropriate counseling services. If a woman needs those services, they must be counselled and be prepared for pregnancy. They are entitled to health information and education as they make the decision to be pregnant. They are also entitled to referral for certain services that are not limited to services like adoption. The Cabinet Secretary may prescribe standards for the effective delivery of services regarding the safe occurrence of future pregnancy. This Bill spells out the services that a non-pregnant woman is entitled to. Then it goes ahead to prescribe services that a pregnant woman is entitled to."
}