Public Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni has called on doctors to soften their stance and negotiate with the government to avert a planned strike.
Muthoni has said that the government is fully committed to ensuring the pertinent issues are addressed once and for all to ensure doctors will still be at work during the whole of the festive season.
Speaking in Gichugu, Kirinyaga County, Muthoni noted that the availability of doctors, particularly during the festive season, is important, urging them to agree to negotiate so that they can continue saving lives.
Muthoni has also cautioned the public, particularly women, to be careful about the cosmetics they are using on their skin, saying that some are harmful and can bring about skin diseases.
The PS said that the ministry is still waiting for a report on rogue beauty parlours that are conducting skin surgeries and will make the report public.
“A month ago we had a case of a Kenyan who lost her life over skin surgery, and we took the matter to the relevant government agencies, and we are waiting for the full report,” Muthoni said.
Muthoni has also called upon the public to avoid using over-the-counter medication and instead get proper prescriptions from medical practitioners, saying this has led to the endangering of patients’ lives.
The PS said it is high time for Kenyans embrace wellness screening so as to detect some of the disease they are suffering from without their awareness.
She said with the presence of community health promoters, some of the diseases, like high blood pressure and blood sugar level, may be detected early, hence helping the patient get treatment before it worsens.
“The best gift you can give your family and your children is to register them with the Social Health Authority (SHA); this is because you will have covered them from any emergency that may come unexpectedly.”
She said the government is committed to making sure everyone gets treatment despite their status, once they go to any level of hospital.