Premium

Why the referral system is choking major hospitals as patients suffer

Patients requiring emergency and specialised treatment suffer from unavailable beds, missing equipment, lengthy transfers and out-of-pocket costs.

By Mercy Kahenda 8 days ago

Free maternity care still unclear despite new SHA package

Patients with chronic conditions want the Ministry of Health to make systems work and clarify enhanced services offered under the newly gazetted benefit package.

By Mercy Kahenda 9 days ago

Premium

USAID exit exposes fragility of Africa's donor-funded health systems

For decades, billions of dollars from donors have sustained health systems that African governments have struggled to finance independently.

By Mercy Kahenda 10 days ago

Doctors condemn politicians filming patients in hospital for selfish gain

The Kenya Medical Association has raised concerns over the rising trend of leaders staging photography sessions, live broadcasts, and media events within healthcare facilities.

By Mercy Kahenda 11 days ago

Premium

WHO chief moves to calm hantavirus fears

WHO Director-General Tedros has sought to calm global fears over the hantavirus outbreak linked to the MV Hondius, insisting the public health risk remains low.

By Mercy Kahenda 11 days ago

Premium

Kenya, African leaders reject free use of pathogen data by developed states

WHO’s pandemic agreement remains stalled in Geneva, as African leaders, drawing hard lessons from the HIV and Covid-19 crises, reject a system that treats their genetic data as a free commodity.

By Mercy Kahenda 11 days ago

Premium

Revealed: Ring buying human blood, stool and urine for export

Shocking revelations have emerged of blood and other medical samples are illegally extracted and exported abroad for scientific use.

By Mercy Kahenda 13 days ago

Premium

How patients are left to suffer amid persistent blood shortages

Kenya faces a persistent blood shortage that leaves thousands of patients at risk every year, with Nairobi, the country’s busiest health hub collecting only 60 percent of its annual target.

By Mercy Kahenda 13 days ago

Premium

Sulphur concerns: Why it is harmful to humans

Importation of low quality fuel into the country is likely to result in increased hospitalisation and health complications because of high sulphur content, health experts have warned.

By Mercy Kahenda 15 days ago

Premium

MPs call for overhaul of cancer treatment access and funding

MPs have called for urgent reforms to Kenya’s cancer care system, warning that reduced funding under SHA and late diagnoses are worsening access, costs and patient outcomes.

By Mercy Kahenda 16 days ago

Floods, conflict disrupt healthcare for chronic disease patients

As conflict, climate disasters, and displacement intensify across Kenya and the African continent, patients living with chronic diseases are increasingly being left unattended.

By Mercy Kahenda 18 days ago

Climate change deepens health crisis in Africa, experts warn

Experts warn that climate change is worsening Africa’s health crisis, driving rising cases of kidney disease, pregnancy complications and stillbirths.

By Mercy Kahenda 23 days ago

Premium

Africa urged to prioritise domestic health to tackle rising burden of NCDs

African countries are being urged to boost domestic health funding and prioritise prevention to tackle the rising burden of cancer and other non-communicable diseases amid shrinking donor support.

By Mercy Kahenda 23 days ago

Premium

African states to meet US, discuss details of bilateral health agreement

African states are set to meet with the US to resolve disputes over data sharing and sovereignty that have delayed a bilateral health funding agreement.

By Mercy Kahenda 23 days ago

Premium

KEMRI pushes for malnutrition screening using new tool, data-driven action

KEMRI is promoting nationwide malnutrition screening using a new MUAC tool and data-driven approaches to improve early detection and guide community-level interventions.

By Mercy Kahenda 23 days ago

Premium

Africa urged to put more weight on health financing amid donor cuts

Health stakeholders warn that over-reliance on external support has left Africa struggling to respond effectively to pandemics and maintain essential health services.

By Mercy Kahenda 24 days ago

MPs pledge to push for improved care of patients with bleeding disorder

Parliament has pledged to push for urgent reforms to improve the management of haemophilia in Kenya, following a petition highlighting severe gaps in access to care and treatment. 

By Mercy Kahenda 25 days ago

Kenya closing immunisation gaps as global drive reaches millions of children

Kenya is among 12 countries that have benefited from a global push to reach unvaccinated children under five, as the world marks World Immunisation Week. 

By Mercy Kahenda 25 days ago

Premium

How Malaria is stealing pregnancies in Siaya

Families in Siaya are losing pregnancies and lives to malaria, exposing gaps in prevention, funding cuts, and delayed antenatal care despite the disease being preventable and treatable.

By Mercy Kahenda 27 days ago

Premium

Experts warn of growing malaria drug resistance

Health experts warn that rising malaria drug resistance, worsened by climate change, is threatening treatment effectiveness and expanding the disease’s reach in Kenya.

By Mercy Kahenda 28 days ago

Premium

'We didn't understand SHA deal': Why teachers are crying foul over Mwalimu cover

The government insists teachers were consulted on the SHA medical cover, but unions dispute this and threaten disruption over gaps in benefits and service delivery.

By Mercy Kahenda 1 month ago

Premium

Teachers threaten strike over SHA package, demands unclear

Teachers’ unions, including Kuppet, are threatening a strike over dissatisfaction with SHA benefits, despite unclear demands and prior negotiations with the Teachers Service Commission.

By Mercy Kahenda 1 month ago

Premium

Born different: The silent crisis of birth defects, stigma and toll

Some defects are visible at birth, others remain hidden until complications emerge later. Medical experts link many defects to preventable maternal health factors

By Mercy Kahenda 1 month ago

Premium

No special SHA covers for civil servants, ministry clarifies

The Ministry of Health maintains that there are no special schemes for civil servants under the Social Health Authority.

By Mercy Kahenda 1 month ago

Premium

Long-acting HIV prevention jab records no major health concerns

Kenya’s rollout of the HIV prevention drug Lenacapavir has recorded no major side effects, with experts reporting only mild, temporary pain at injection sites.

By Mercy Kahenda 1 month ago

Premium

Five counties in SHA fraud web as 12 hospitals shut amid probe

Five Kenyan counties have been implicated in a major Social Health Authority fraud scheme, prompting the shutdown of 12 hospitals as authorities intensify investigations.

By Mercy Kahenda 1 month ago

Experts raise alarm over rising NCD cases linked to poor diet

Health experts warn that rising non-communicable diseases in Kenya are linked to poor diets, prompting the formation of Food Policy Coalition Kenya to push for stronger food environment policies.

By Mercy Kahenda 1 month ago

Premium

Early signs of autism every parent should watch closely

Autistic children children presents with speech delay that can come in different forms, for example failure to attain language.

By Mercy Kahenda 1 month ago

Premium

MPs call for urgent action to stop rising cancer deaths

MPs urge urgent action from the Ministry of Health to tackle rising cancer deaths through early diagnosis and intervention.

By Mercy Kahenda 1 month ago

Ugandan among global Rotary honourees for transforming rural education

A Ugandan is among six Rotary members honoured globally, for improving access to quality education in rural Uganda.

By Mercy Kahenda 1 month ago

Premium

State: Covid-19 variant in US 'not alarming'

The government says the COVID-19 sub-variant BA.3.2 (“Cicada”) detected in the US is under monitoring but not currently a cause for alarm.

By Mercy Kahenda 1 month ago

Premium

Why Tobaco firms have shifted to social media to lure youths

Tobacco firms are being criticised for targeting Kenyan youth through aggressive social media marketing of nicotine products.

By Mercy Kahenda 1 month ago

Premium

Silent cries: The overlooked pain and grim reality of stillbirths

Women’s grief often remains invisible despite losing their newborn babies. Kenya is working to strengthen maternal care and implement support systems.

By Mercy Kahenda 1 month ago

National Treasury asked to raise taxes on tobacco, sugary drinks and alcohol

If adopted, the proposals on alcoholic beverages would harmonise excise tax rates across all alcohol products.

By Mercy Kahenda 1 month ago

Kenya adopts new initiative to curb maternal and neonatal deaths

The deaths, according to Amoth, are preventable and show “a gap in implementation”.

By Mercy Kahenda 1 month ago

Makueni hailed for maternal health innovation

Makueni County has been recognised internationally for achieving zero maternal deaths from postpartum haemorrhage, thanks to innovative practices.

By Mercy Kahenda 1 month ago

Premium

Healthcare failures fuel maternal, infant deaths, warns experts

Healthcare inefficiencies across Africa are driving preventable maternal and infant deaths, with Jean Kaseya urging urgent solutions to strengthen health systems.

By Mercy Kahenda 1 month ago

Kenya races against time to save mothers and newborns in marginalised counties

The national government is working closely with respective organisations to help reduce high maternal and newborn deaths in marginalised counties.

By Mercy Kahenda 1 month ago

Premium

Sh300m budget cut threatens to roll back gains in fight against TB

A Sh300 million budget cut has raised fears in Kenya that progress made in tackling tuberculosis could be reversed amid growing funding gaps.

By Mercy Kahenda 1 month ago

Premium

Epilepsy silently affects two million Kenyans as stigma blocks treatment

Millions live with epilepsy in Kenya as stigma blocks treatment.

By Mercy Kahenda 1 month ago