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{
    "id": 364891,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/364891/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 193,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "June, 2013 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 25 Hon. Wakhungu",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Sang, that is a very good amendment because diagnosis is very critical. A lot of drug resistance in this country is as a result of misdiagnosis and why we are having this misdiagnosis is because maybe we do not have a laboratory technician or we do not have the reagents to do proper diagnosis so that the doctor will be able to prescribe the right drug at the right time to be able to save the patient. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, this Motion is very critical when you look at the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The United Nations (UN) came up with eight MDGs and out of these eight MDGs, three talk about health. For instance, MDG Number Four talks about reducing child mortality; MDG Number Five talks about improving maternal health; and MDG Number Six talks about combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases. So, that tells you the importance of health care in any economy and research has shown that there is a positive correlation between any healthy nation and its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth. So, indeed, for this country to grow its GDP, focus must be put on health care. Again, with His Excellency the President coming up with free maternity health care we ask ourselves: Have we increased the manpower? For this policy of free maternity health care to work, it is important that this Motion has come at the right time. Unfortunately, when you look at the Budget Estimates which we have just passed, the percentage that was given in terms of health care is way less than the Abuja Declaration’s recommendation. A times you wonder why our Government and country commits itself to some declarations and yet we cannot implement them. The Abuja Declaration was very key and it said countries or governments must be able to allocate at least its 50 per cent of the GDP to health care. Unfortunately, in this country the budget that was given to health care is well well less than what was required. So, to me, if this aspect of free maternity health care is going to succeed, it is important that the Government must focus and be able to prioritise health care."
}