by Christine Lagat
NAIROBI, June 29 (Xinhua) -- The Kenyan ministry of health will soon roll out new policy frameworks coupled with additional funding to boost response to emergency medical care in the light of rising man-made and natural disasters, officials said Thursday at a forum in Nairobi.
Cabinet Secretary for Health Cleopa Mailu said enactment of a robust policy and legislative framework will strengthen Kenya's ability to tackle health emergencies linked to road accidents, fires, epidemics and civil disturbances.
"Our health sector has prioritized investments in disaster response to avert deaths and economic losses," Mailu said, adding that Kenya has set precedence in the region in terms of emergency medical care.
Kenya has domesticated global instruments to revitalize disaster response through investments in capacity development, research and modern equipment.
Mailu noted that investments in a resilient health care infrastructure has strengthened Kenya's capacity to respond to natural disasters, terrorism, fires and disease outbreaks.
"Emergency medical care is currently an integral component of the national health system. We are training additional personnel while acquiring custom-made ambulances to deliver emergency care," said Mailu.
Climatic shocks in recent years that include droughts and floods are believed to have overstretched Kenya's emergency healthcare infrastructure.
At the same time, Kenya has recorded a significant spike in human-induced disasters like collapse of buildings, fires, terrorism and road accidents.
Simon Kibias, Head of Emergency Medical Care and Disaster in the ministry of health, said that a paradigm shift is required to mitigate disasters that are responsible for premature death of Kenya's productive segment of the population.
