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{
    "id": 386265,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/386265/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 94,
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    "content": "Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, having said that, “women” is a very large constituency in this country. They are the voters. Many of my colleagues have said that women legislators and Senators have complained or fought to be given more rights in the Senate, like the right to vote. We heard what Sen. Kittony was saying the other day and she was shut down, what many Senators including Sen. Mugo and Sen. Lesuuda have said; that there is a right of access to health. We thank the President for having considered this very important aspect. Having been involved in the women movement as a women’s rights activist, I am privy to information and statistics of how many women have died during child birth and how women do not have all the rights to reproductive health. We have heard colleagues from the marginalized areas saying that they do not have all the facilities which they require in the health centres. We have seen many instances where women who are in labour are carried on wheel-barrows for miles to hospitals or health centres where they can get proper attention and care they need. This is a woman’s right and a condition that is very sensitive and special and applies only to women. That is why we are lauding the President because he said that he will ensure that women will have access to health care. In my humble opinion, it is a priority. I saw in the newspapers yesterday the way women have flocked medical centres. This reminded me of the situation when free primary education programme was started by the NARC Government in 2003. Many children flocked to schools including adults who had missed out on education. This situation was managed. In his speech, he pledged and even gave instructions that money should be released to stock drugs and equipment in health centres. We are calling upon the President not to go back or relax but give it the priority it deserves. This cannot wait. A woman who wants to deliver cannot wait for tomorrow. Whereas laptops and other issues can be managed, this is a matter of life and death. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the other issue which I expected to hear from the President’s Speech was on how he is going to uphold gender issues. There are many gender Bills which are pending somewhere. They appeared in the august House but they were defeated. Some played around with them and made comments about them terming them as abortion Bills but we know they protect the health of women. We have the Family Protection Bill which protects the family. We have talked about security externally but security begins from the House or the family. We believe that the family should be protected and policy guidelines given. This will ensure that our families are safe. We have seen from the reports that this is not an issue that affects women only but even men are now victims of domestic violence. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, many of the issues that I would have wanted to speak about have been mentioned. So, to avoid repetition and to also give my colleagues a chance to speak, I would say thank you and I support."
}