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{
    "id": 720087,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/720087/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 118,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. (Dr.) Nyikal",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 434,
        "legal_name": "James Nyikal",
        "slug": "james-nyikal"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I rise to support the Motion on the Agreement between the two governments. The issue here is very basic. There is need for cooperation of all countries across the world, particularly those who ascribe to the World Health Organisation (WHO) public health regulations that are worldwide. In this particular instance, the issue is between the Government of the United States of America (USA) and the Government of Kenya. The issue that we are concerned about is that of threat to human health through biological agents and these include germs that can be used in warfare such as Anthrax and Small Pox and also chemicals of radiation that can be used in warfare or by terrorists. All these can have mass effects on human health. As you have indicated, these may, in acts of terrorism, be released on purpose by terrorist agents or they can be released by error in labs that are utilising or holding these agents. Therefore, there is need to be prepared for this, whether the release is by error or it is purposeful as in the case of terrorism. Once the release has occurred, the effect and the preparedness is the same except in the case of terrorism where there is need to have much more massive preventive measures that will include all other arms of the Government. In this case, the need for the Government to be involved is to acquire the capacity and this capacity is required for surveillance so as to be always careful across the country, particularly at areas of entry if you are thinking of terrorism. Therefore, we need a surveillance mechanism that will consist of laboratories across the country that can pick these early enough, make a diagnosis and pass the information. Further, sometimes, even in the course of normal research, errors can occur. Again, it is important that this may not be picked by the lab where this has occurred, but it may be picked elsewhere. That information needs to be relayed across the country and also internationally. For that, we need the capacity of laboratory and human personnel who can handle this. The best way to do this is to work together with people who have this expertise. In fact, a simple thing as how a laboratory is structured is important in preventing this. Definitely, there is danger when you are cooperating with other governments in this. These dangers are the materials that are being exported out of the country or imported into the country and the access other government have to our system. We need the capacity. It is only with human capacity that we can prevent and protect ourselves. If we do not have people and systems that know this, then people can walk in, do things and walk out. We have cooperation in many other areas, for example, during disease outbreaks. We call people from other countries to support us. We need people who can understand what is brought in, taken out and how we can protect ourselves. So, in the initial stages, we are duty bound to cooperate with people with that capacity. It has been indicated by the Mover that in the US, it is with the Ministry of Health. That raised an issue during the discussion, but the reality is that in the US, they have a military department that is dealing with health like the Walter Reed Research that we cooperate a lot with in the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI). That is why it is coming through health. Therefore, we have recommended that our Defence Department needs to develop a research department that is related to health that can deal with these matters. As it is now, their dealing is through the Ministry of Health and basically KEMRI, the veterinary laboratory that we are dealing with and even the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries because these are biological agents. This Report proposes a team that takes into consideration all these. I particularly would say that our military must take real interest, put 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."
}