Diarrhoea, flu top Nairobi residents’ disease burden
By Alvin.Mwangi, January 9, 2023Respiratory diseases, diarrhoea and road accidents are some of the medical issues Nairobi residents deal with, a new survey shows.
The report of a health task force appointed by Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja shows pneumonia accounts for 60 per cent of outpatient visits with diarrheal diseases accounting for 16 per cent.
It also emerged that cardiovascular diseases are on the rise with cancer also listed among the health burdens residents face due to their lifestyles.
“The three leading causes of death among those over five years are general respiratory diseases, tuberculosis as a specific cause of death,” the report reads.
Sakaja formed rgw raskforce to review the health sector in the capital city.
Dr Githinji Gitahi, who chaired the taskforce, noted that morbidity and mortality in Nairobi are to a large extent associated with environmental health risk factors that include air pollution, poor quality of drinking water and unwanting sanitation.
“We have a problem here and it should be dealt with. People, not only in the informal settings, have problems with water. This will definitely lead to poor sanitation which will lead to numerous infections,” Gitahi noted.
Taskforce also established that 11 per cent of children under five years are underweight.
In terms of vaccination, Nairobi remains at the top with 95 per cent being fully vaccinated.
The proportion of mothers who deliver at health facilities is at 89 per cent while those who deliver at home and other unspecified places is 21.6 and 1.4 per cent respectively.
Alarmingly, Gitahi noted that the county was recording increased HIV infections with new infections standing at 4,981 annually. Currently, Nairobi has 171,510 people living with HIV.
To address this, the taskforce recommended the need to bring on campaigns that will promote good behaviour and use of protection if necessary.
On accidents, the team recommended the need to establish a fully fledged blood satellite at Mama Lucy Hospital.
Technical committee
While receiving the report, Governor Sakaja said he will urgently appoint an advisory technical committee that will help him implement its recommendations.
“I want to commit that the report will not be put on the shelves but I will see to it that all the recommendations are implemented for the benefit of Nairobians,” Sakaja said. To curb the medical issues affecting Nairobians, the team recommended the need for the county to invest in service delivery from community services and also by supporting primary care.
To actualise primary healthcare service, the committee recommended that the county ought to operationalise the Facility Improvement Fund Act so as to allow a devolved facility-level response. It also recommended that Nairobi should have an Integrated Health Information System.
“There is a need to improve the working environment as a means of improving their motivation,” the chair said.
Team also wants the county government to establish a state-of-the-art Emergency Operation Centre.
Under this, they want Sakaja to strengthen the emergency referral system including upgrading of the county and facility ambulance service and ensure timely access to emergency care.
On maternal health, the team noted with grave concern the dysfunctional state of the 3rd theatre at the Level 5 Pumwani Maternity Hospital, which has put enormous pressure on the existing operating theatres.