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{
"id": 543067,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/543067/?format=api",
"text_counter": 126,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. (Dr.) Pukose",
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"speaker": {
"id": 1458,
"legal_name": "Robert Pukose",
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"content": "127(3), we placed advertisements in the local dailies calling for views from the general public on the Bill. The views were received on or before Wednesday 5th November, 2014. When that was done, the Kenya Christian Professionals Forum (KCPF) responded and gave us their views. When you look at this Bill, its main objective is to provide for the regulation of IVF, prohibit certain practices in connection with IVF, establish an In-Vitro Fertilisation Authority (IVFA) and make provision in relation to children born of IVF. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, rights to sexual and reproductive health are generally recognized as integral part of the right to health. This stems from the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development, which was held in Cairo and from the Fourth World Conference on Women held in Beijing in 1995. These forums recognized the rights to sexual and reproductive health such as freedom to control one’s body, the right to an efficient health system and easy access to information on sexual and reproductive issues. Thus, states are obligated to guarantee adequate services and information on medically-assisted reproduction. This, therefore, has been domesticated through Article 43 of the Constitution, which provides for the right to the highest attainable standard of health; this includes the right to healthcare services, including reproductive health and care. The framework in the Draft Kenya Health Policy, 2014 to 2030, has four objectives. In the fourth objective, it provides for essential healthcare, and recognizes reproductive health services. It offers the policy strategy for ensuring a comprehensive maternal and neonatal reproductive health services. We also have the draft Health Bill, which we have been able to look at. Currently, it is on its way to this House in two weeks’ time from the Office of the Attorney-General. Part II of this draft Health Bill has provisions on human organs, human blood, human products, other tissues and gametes. In Article 69, it provides that the Cabinet Secretary (CS) will make regulations, among them the following:- tissue transplant, the artificial fertilization of persons, returns and reports including extracts from registers to be submitted to specified persons and institutions, the acquisition, storage, harvesting, utilization or manipulation of tissue, blood, blood products, organs, gametes, oocytes or human stem cells for any purpose, the appointment and functions of inspectors of progenitor cells, stem cells for any purpose, and the bringing together outside the human body of male and female gametes for research with regard to the product of the union of those gametes. This is in-vitro fertilization (IVF). In IVF, this is assisted reproductive technology. The implication of the foregoing, therefore, is that IVF is duly provided for and recognized in the national health system. However, the policy direction of Government does not envision the creation of an authority to regulate a single technology, in this case IVF; instead it envisions a single regulatory body to regulate health products and technologies. That is where we differ with the Bill by hon. Millie Odhiambo-Mabona; creation of an authority makes her’s a money Bill. In IVF, this is assisted reproductive technology and the World Health Organisation (WHO) defines “assisted reproductive technology” as all treatment or procedures that include in-vitro handling of both human oocytes and sperms, or embryo, for the purpose of establishing a pregnancy. This includes but is not limited to in-vitro The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}