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{
    "id": 1407849,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1407849/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 428,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Crystal Asige",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker. Next in the proposed provisions in the Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Bill is on birth attendants, and I note the focus on healthcare providers and trained birth attendants. Unfortunately, this for me excludes the traditional birth attendants in our homes and villages in Kenya who operate without medical licenses, but whose expertise and experiences are needed to advance the access of safe maternal care in order to reach marginalized communities. I also hope the sponsor takes this into account. Another section in this Bill that provides a clear frame work should be created that will include the traditional birth attendants to cater to sensitization of their role as healthcare workers; include them in both the national and county governments and provide an avenue through which these traditional health workers can be registered. Madam Temporary Speaker, we can see the doctors’ strike and the sponsor has mentioned it. We have seen over 50 children with disabilities die since the strike started because as parents and caregivers of children with disabilities, we cannot access healthcare services, hospital beds, our service providers and our therapists, so on and so forth. It is a shame when we see mothers, parents, caregivers, or families losing their small children with disabilities because of lack of healthcare. Madam Temporary Speaker, as I finish, a pertinent issue that we need to address is on matters of service delivery and access to health services. Clause 11(h), states that- “The National Government and county governments shall, in respect of maternal, neonatal and child health care, put in place measures to facilitate the provision of- the infrastructure necessary to support the delivery of basic and comprehensive emergency obstetric and neonatal care services”. Clause 25(2), the same governments are obligated to make regulations that prescribe minimum standards for a number of services of which the above is not included. I propose that such regulations prescribing minimum standards necessary for carrying out functions of this proposed Bill should also include the provision of the infrastructure necessary to support the delivery of basic and comprehensive emergency obstetrics and neonatal services. Madam Temporary Speaker, I want to close there because of time. However, I hope that some of these suggestions and proposals I have made as I stand to support and second this Bill, will be taken into account. This will ensure both non-disabled and disabled women and girls have the appropriate maternal healthcare that they deserve so that we can continue also contributing to the growth of this country. I thank you."
}