Tackle health issues facing city residents
By Editorial.Team, January 9, 2023Nairobi is a microcosm of Kenya and, as a result, it ought to set high standards when dealing with the challenges facing its residents, particularly on health matters. Indeed, it ought to be that the governor who succeeds in transforming the capital should be considered a serious contender for the presidency in future.
Now, a new report indicates that respiratory and diarrheal diseases are the leading causes of hospital visits in the city. This means there is a large number of residents who lack access to clean water and are affected by pollution and other forms of exposure that make them vulnerable to respiratory infections, tuberculosis and pneumonia.
These are challenges that can be resolved in the medium term through a targeted approach that addresses sanitation, congestion in informal settlements and access to affordable primary health care for vulnerable families and individuals.
Whereas it is fine to focus on big projects, such as highways and railways, the leadership must also pay attention to the bottom of the pyramid if it is to make Nairobi a liveable, sustainable and enjoyable city that is attractive to the people who call it home as it is to visitors and investors.
European capitals addressed diarrheal problems over 200 years ago. They have a template that Nairobi can borrow and it is quite straightforward; ensuring that residents have access to clean water and there is a working sewerage infrastructure.
Prioritising cleanliness will also go a long way in ensuring a safer environment, especially for children, who are most vulnerable to ailments caused by poor waste management. And given that the capital once had a system that worked, the leadership needs to review what went wrong and find sustainable ways to ensure it works again, even if this means outsourcing some services like garbage collection to private investors.
Going forward, all new infrastructure projects must be made to conform to public health and safety standards. In this way, the city will reduce the mortality rate of its residents.
Finally, there needs to be targeted public awareness campaigns to teach the people how to maintain healthy environments and be safe and healthy at home, on the roads and at work.
Health is a critical pillar of wealth creation. If the county leadership can have a formula to address this, it can make Nairobi an economic model.