Christabel Wesonga, a nurse director, maternal and child health programs at Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi.Due to circumstances they cannot avoid, some mothers choose to mix feed by breastfeeding and also doing formula feeding. Is this bad? It depends, says Christabel Wesonga, a nurse and director of maternal and child health programs at Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi.Wesonga advises mothers to breastfeed their babies because of the many benefits that the breastmilk has for the baby and for the mother, too. She says that breastfeeding gives the baby everything they need to grow strong and healthy. She says: “Breastmilk is packed…
Author: by ELISHA SINGIRA
Dr Mahmoud Merali, a psychologist at Aga Khan University Hospital, NairobiThe idea that “real men don’t cry” has lingered in society for generations, painting a picture of masculinity where emotional vulnerability is seen as weakness. Dr Mahmoud Merali urges men to express their emotional vulnerability. Dr Mahmoud Merali, a psychologist at Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi, said the concept is not only misleading but also puts men’s mental health at risk. He says that he is on a mission to change that. He insists that men, too, should cry because it is necessary.Throughout history, boys have grown up hearing phrases like…
A father carrying his baby skin to skin to foster bondingFor long, many people in society have viewed bonding as primarily a mother’s responsibility, but fathers play an equally vital role in fostering emotional security and social well-being from the start of a baby’s life. While mothers need to take care of the baby after birth, experts say fathers should be there to bond with their infants because both parents play different roles in the baby, which is clearly understood by the baby. Experts say that the bonding period between a father and his infant is more than a tender…
Griffins Ochieng, executive director of the Centre for Environmental Justice and Development (CEJAD).African governments have been asked to boldly demand and push for an ambitious, legally binding treaty to protect human health and the environment from plastic pollution. The Kenyan Civil Society Coalition to End Plastic Pollution made this call during a meeting organised in Nairobi by Centre for Environmental Justice and Development (CEJAD) in partnership with Heinrich Boll Foundation (HBF) ahead of the coming fifth resumed session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5.2) on the Global Plastics Treaty in Geneva from August 5 to 14. The meeting in Geneva is…
Ken Acajou, Deputy CEO CFAO Healthcare, Biju Mohandas, Partner & Global Head, Healthcare at LeapFrog Investments, Jean-Marc LECCIA, CEO of CFAO Healthcare, Justin Melvin, CEO, Goodlife Kenya. CFAO Healthcare has announced its full acquisition of Goodlife Pharmacy, giving it full control of the pharmaceutical outlets across Kenya and Uganda.The acquisition process was announced during a press conference in Nairobi.Speaking during the handover ceremony, CFAO Healthcare CEO Jean -Marc Leccia said that the move confirms the company’s expansion into East Africa’s retail health market.“By acquiring 100 per cent of Goodlife Pharmacy, we are accelerating our transformation into a global healthcare player.…
The launch of the study report, by the Pan African Research Services (PARS) in partnership with the Kenya Red Cross Society.A new report has identified barriers to inclusion and challenges in scaling social protection programmes in Kenya. The study, conducted by Pan African Research Services (PARS) in partnership with the Kenya Red Cross Society and funded by the European Union Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid, focused on Kenya’s Turkana, Garissa, and Tana River counties. These regions were selected as a sample because of their high vulnerability to disasters such as droughts, floods and displacement as witnessed over the years.Kenya’s social protection…
Dr Peter Ogutu, consultant cardiothoracic surgeon at Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi.It all began with a sore throat, which culminated in general body weakness. The situation made it difficult for Samuel Obare to continue with his favourite sport, football, because of the racing heartbeat as he ran in the field. When Samuel was a child, football was his world, a place where speed and stamina defined friendship and joy. As the boy from Nyamira grew, he noted something was wrong. “The first signs I noticed were fever, joint pains, coughing, general weakness and difficulty breathing,” Samuel recalls. His heartbeat became…
Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards, Mary Muthoni.Clinical officers from around the world have honoured the Principal Secretary for Public Health, Mary Muthoni, for her leadership in elevating the global visibility and mobility of Kenya’s health workforce. The award was presented by the Global Association of Clinical Officers and Physician Associates (GACOPA).The PS expressed gratitude for the honour. “I am honoured to receive the Citation of Honor from the Global Association of Clinical Officers and Physician Associates (GACOPA). This recognition reflects our shared commitment to strengthening Kenya’s health workforce,” she posted on X. “Clinical Officers are central to delivering primary…
Members of the Kenya Wheelchair Basketball team in a training camp with Vikapu Basketball team at the Kasarani Arena. For decades, the poliovirus has not just crippled bodies—it has left indelible marks on hearts, daily routines, dreams and entire communities. Anne Wafula Strike, a 56-year-old Kenyan-born British, is a polio survivor, a paralympian and a disability rights and inclusion advocate. She has been compelled to start an initiative geared towards creating awareness on the importance of polio immunisation as she empowers other polio survivors through sports.Anne says she started the advocacy in 2000, but it gained momentum in 2006 when…
A photo showing a baby with a birth brachial injuryBirthing is a delicate process suspended between hope and uncertainty. This moment calls for the medical personnel to be extra careful. Possible complications are not just limited to the mother; infants also face imminent danger. Among these dangers is Birth Brachial Plexus Palsy (BBPP), a condition that can rob a child of movement in their arm. It can render a tiny limp to never move, turning what should be a milestone that brings joy into frustrations and sometimes tears. Dr Dorsi Jowi, a consultant plastic and reconstructive surgeon and hand…
HIV treatment drugs.Experts have proposed new treatment modes for older people with HIV. The new treatment does not cause the health-threatening side effects found in the existing drugs. Experts at the ongoing International Aids Society Conference on HIV Science in Rwanda said older people above 60 years are never given enough attention when it comes to the war against HIV, yet they are at more risk of other medical conditions like kidney disease, diabetes, hypertension and osteoporosis (a bone disease that weakens bones and makes them more susceptible to fractures). Presenting the research findings in the forum, Dr Loice Ombajo, an…
Nairobi Hospital leadership inspects one of the new labour delivery rooms during the launch in the hospital’s maternity wing.Nairobi Hospital has launched new delivery units designed to accommodate the entire birthing process in one place. The new labour delivery rooms (LDR) eliminate transfers between the labour, delivery and recovery spaces to enhance the comfort, safety and dignity of the mothers while at the facility. Dr Barcley Onyambu, chairperson of the hospital board, noted that the new LDR is different from what has previously been there, where mothers were stationed in a room with several beds for labour. He said this grossly…
Dr Stephanie Kamunya, a postdoctoral research fellow at the Centre for Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis (CEMA).Malaria continues to be a major public health concern in Kenya, despite decades of concerted efforts to control and eliminate the disease. According to researchers, malaria persists due to the complex interplay of environmental, social, and biological factors, as well as evolving challenges such as drug and insecticide resistance, emerging mosquito vectors, and shifting epidemiological patterns. In a recent report released by the Ministry of Health, malaria remains one of the leading causes of hospital visits and deaths in Kenya, with an estimated 10,700 deaths…
Experts during the CEMA media workshop in commemoration of World Zoonoses Day. Zoonotic diseases, which are illnesses transmitted from animals to humans, have increasingly become a pressing public health issue in Kenya and across Africa, experts say. The diseases are silently spreading across Kenya, threatening both lives and livelihoods. Experts warn of rising outbreaks and call for urgent action to prevent the next public health crisis. As the world marked World Zoonoses Day on July 6, the Centre for Epidemiological Modeling and Analysis (CEMA) brought together journalists and researchers in Nairobi to reflect on the burden of zoonotic diseases in…
Aga Khan University Hospital section head, nuclear radiology, Dr Samuel Nguku and chair, department of radiology, Dr Khalid Makhdomi, analyse a scan image for one of the patients who received the Lutetium-177 PSMA therapy.Two hospitals in Kenya have now made history in being the first ones to offer Lutetium-177 PSMA therapy, a treatment for patients with aggressive form of prostate cancer.The first one is Ruai-based RFH Healthcare, which began the treatment in early May this year. On Thursday this week, the Aga Khan University Hospital sent a statement announcing it had also conducted the treatment.This therapy uses a radioactive substance, Lutetium-177, to…
Dr Patrick Amoth, Director General for Health, and other stakeholders, during the media awareness brief in Nairobi.The Ministry of Health (MOH) has launched a plan for an integrated Measles-Rubella and Typhoid Conjugate vaccine campaign across the country from July 5 to July 14. The programme will run across all 47 counties, with the aim to vaccinate more than 15 million children aged between nine months to 14 years with Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine (TCV), and nine to five years with the Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccine with an aim to reach all children. In a media brief to create awareness for the upcoming…
Loneliness is described as the painful feeling that arises from a gap between desired and actual social connections.A new report from the World Health Organization commission on social connections shows that loneliness exacerbates chances of deaths among people. The report says that loneliness is responsible for an estimated 100 deaths every hour, which makes up more than 871 000 deaths annually. The global report further states that 1 in 6 people worldwide is affected by loneliness, with significant impacts on health and well-being. Dr Vivek Murthy, co-chair of the WHO Commission on Social Connection, and former Surgeon General of the…
Dr Ouma Oluga, Principal Secretary for Medical Services, Nick Lagunowich, Global President Emerging Markets, Pfizer and Feleke Assefa, the Commercial Counsellor at the US Embassy.Kenya has joined a programme by drugs manufacturer Pfizer to access cheaper medicines from the company. The Ministry of Health and Pfizer signed the pack for Kenya to join ‘Accord for healthier world’ to enable the country access Pfizer medicines and vaccines at not-for-profit basis. Kenya becomes the 14th eligible country to join the agreement, which is posited to support health systems capability and capacity building for long-term impact. Speaking during the event, Dr Ouma Oluga, Principal Secretary…
Jinagna Shah, a speech therapist at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi.It is always a joyous occasion when a baby utters their first words. However, this does not always happen as expected because some babies suffer delays in the development of speech.When should a child should be able to speak and when do we classify it as delayed language development? Dr Jinagna Shah, a speech therapist at Aga Khan University Hospital, defines delayed language as a condition often seen in babies or toddlers three to three and a half years old who have not been able to utter their first words.…
Dr Joan Okemo, Consultant Obstetrician Gynaecologist at Aga Khan University Hospital Nairobi.Pregnancy is a delicate moment for mothers. They are most susceptible to serious complications, some which are fatal. One of the major problems that usually develop or manifest during pregnancy is preeclampsia, a condition associated with high blood pressure. According to the World Health Organization, it affects between 5.6 per cent and 6.5 per cent of pregnancies in Kenya. It is the third leading cause of maternal deaths, accounting for 20 per cent of maternal mortality in Kenya.Dr Joan Okemo, consultant obstetrician gynaecologist at Aga Khan University Hospital Nairobi, says preeclampsia happens during pregnancy when…
Emilie Oftedal, Prof Dean Karlan, Catherine Kyobutungi, and Amos Njuguna at the Africa Evidence Summit where they presided over the Keynote panel discussions.Experts have called on researchers to ground their proposals on evidence, and in a simple way that is easy for donors to understand and appreciate. They spoke at the Africa Evidence Summit in Nairobi, organised to spotlight research in Africa with a focus on the economic empowerment of the continent. Dean Karlan, professor of Economics and Finance, Northwestern University and co-director, Global Poverty Research lab, hailed the summit for bringing together specialists to figure out how to make…
The launch of the strategic plan to end maternal and child death in Nairobi.A new move to tackle maternal and child deaths has been launched in Nairobi. The SMART Advocacy for Strategic Action (SASA) Alliance officially launched its strategic plan on Tuesday.The initiative aims to transform family planning and maternal, newborn and child health policies across sub-Saharan Africa.Spearheaded by Partners in Population and Development Africa Regional Office (PPD ARO) in Uganda, Jhpiego Kenya, and Pathfinder Nigeria, the SASA Alliance brings together a dynamic technical coalition focused on evidence-based advocacy, accountability, and sustainable policy change. The Alliance targets Kenya, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Senegal…
ICT and Digital Economy CS Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo/HandoutAn advocacy group for people with disabilities has called on the government and other stakeholders to make digital tools easy to access for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).The call was made during the 6th Inclusive Africa Conference to accelerate digital accessibility for persons with disabilities in Africa, held in Nairobi on Tuesday.The organisation, inABLE advocacy association, implored the government and other stakeholders in the digital space to design digital tools in a way that will make it easier for PWDs to access and process information seamlessly. Speaking during the conference, Irine Mbari, the…
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale at the World Health Assembly in Geneva last week.Access to quality healthcare remains a major challenge in Kenya and Africa at large as African governments continuously show their lack of commitment to adequately fund heath systems. In 2001, African governments committed to allocate at least 15 per cent of their national budgets to health, in the Abuja declaration. Despite the commitment, most governments have not attained the declared 15 per cent budget allocation mark. The declaration was aimed at improving access to quality healthcare and address challenges like HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. It was seen as…
The WHO aims to protect babies, parents and caregivers from aggressive marketing practices by the baby food industry.Benefits outlined in the advertising of formula milk by digital marketers are misleading to the public, the World Health Organization (WHO) has said. The WHO said the advertisements promote unhealthy baby foods to parents and caregivers, which consequently reinforces negative myths about breastfeeding.This made the WHO member states to call for regulation of the adverts on formula milk and baby foods during the Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly. A research research study by the WHO and United Nations Children Emergency fund (Unicef) found that over…
Dr Joan Okemo, consultant obstetrician gynaecologist Aga Khan University’s Medical College.If you are a woman in your reproductive years or even older, there is an up to 80 per cent chance that you may get fibroids at some stage in your life, though not everyone will have symptoms. Dr Joan Okemo, a consultant obstetrician gynaecologist at Aga Khan University Hospital gives a comprehensive overview of uterine fibroids, including risk factors, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment options available. She explains uterine fibroids as a very common non-cancerous growths that develop in the muscle of the uterus. Though they are common and typically…
KEBS MD Esther Ngari (centre) speaks to journalists on the sidelines of the workshop, flanked by Director for Standards Development Zacharia Lukorito (left) and Manager, Food Standards Peter Mutua (right).The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) has promised to ensure high standards of food safety in retail outlets after recent claims of some stores selling expired products. In a training on food hygiene and safety code of practices held at KEBS headquarters in Nairobi to gear up for the upcoming World Food Safety Day, the organisation’s leadership confirmed that it will uphold high standards of safety to ensure no one breaches the set…
Menstrual products champions at an event in Nairobi.Experts have intensified calls for girls and women to have access to quality and standardised menstrual products. In a forum hosted by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) in collaboration with the Swedish Institute for Standards (SIS), presenters reiterated that it was imperative for all girls and women to have a dignified life that is free of shame from menstrual poverty. “We are having this awareness seminar to create that particular awareness around standards, around performance and also around the testing capabilities that we can support the micro and small enterprises,” said Zakaria…
Dr Osman Miyanji, a paediatric neurologist, at a past Epilepsy awareness event in Nairobi.“How I wish people understood epilepsy is not in any way related to a curse or witchcraft.” This is a painful statement of Patrick Njoroge, who has been epileptic the last 39 years. Patrick has lived with the condition since he was born. He says: “I am very surprised that in the 21-century people still attribute a condition like epilepsy to witchcraft or a curse.” Patrick has had to endure alienation even from family members who have time and again dismissed him as a pretender whenever he…
Nurses protesting their remuneration levels in Kenya in the past.The world’s nursing workforce is growing but deep and persistent inequities threaten to undermine global health goals on Universal Health Coverage. According to the newly released State of the World’s Nursing 2025 report (SoWN), while the number of nurses worldwide has risen to nearly 30 million.The report warns that stark disparities in distribution, education and working conditions are leaving millions without the care they need-and putting the achievement of universal health coverage (UHC) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at risk.The latest figures from the World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with…
Caregiver Lucy Muchina, cancer survivor and patient advocate Lilian Obetto, Aga Khan University Hospital clinical psychologist Zahra Haji and founding director AKU Cancer Centre Prof. Mansoor Saleh during the launch.Breast cancer support group aimed at providing peer support, educational workshops and coping strategies for patients, survivors and caregivers launched at the Aga Khan University Hospital, (AKUH). The support group, which aims at looking at the welfare of cancers patients and survivors post treatment, will utilise four modalities that are considered effective to ensure the survivors lead a normal life that is free of fear of their future life. During the launch,…
Dr Kaveri performing a dental procedure on a patient.Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you fear opening your mouth to speak? Or you find yourself in a room where you don’t want to spend a second more because of the unwelcoming odor. Well, worry less, Dr. Kaveri Bilagi, consultant dental specialist at Meditest Diagnostics located at Park Medical Centre, is here to provide a solution. She explains the causes, the treatment and the best oral hygiene practices that could help eliminate the problem permanently. She begins by explaining what bad breath or halitosis really is. She says that…
Doctors Performing Transhumeral Surgery at Kenyatta National Hospital. [PHOTO: HANDOUT]Transhumeral surgery is a life-changing medical procedure that offers hope to individuals who have lost part of their upper arm, often due to trauma, infection, or medical conditions such as cancer. Dr. Benjamin Wabwire, Head of Plastic and Reproductive Surgery at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), describes it as one of the levels of upper-limb amputation. According to him, the surgery is an amputation that occurs between the shoulder and elbow joints. It is classified as an “above-elbow” amputation and is more complex than lower-level limb removals because it involves the loss…
Expectant women at a clinic. One should seek a doctor’s intervention in case there is no foetal movement . It is the dream of every woman to hold their baby after a successful conception and gestation. However, this is not the case for the many women who experience stillbirths.Dr Joan Okemo, a consultant obstetrician gynaecologist at the Aga Khan University Hospital, says stillbirth is the heartbreaking loss of a baby after 24 weeks of pregnancy. She says, sometimes, doctors may identify the cause of the occurrence but reasons mostly remain unknown.Dr Okemo (pictured) says that even though there is no known cause…
Facilities where most women go for post abortion care.Health facilities in Kenya have no capacity to provide basic and comprehensive post abortion care leading to deaths of victims, the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) has said.In that regard, the KHRC has called on the government to allocate adequate resources, especially on the reproductive health services and maternal health care, during the next financial year to prevent unsafe abortion among women and girls.The lobby called on the government to align with the Abuja Declaration which stated that the government must allocate at least 15 per cent of its annual budget to…
The Ministry of Health said hospitals need to be held accountable for how they treat patients.Did you ever go to a hospital, got the medical care you needed, but walked away feeling ignored, dismissed, or frustrated?Maybe your concerns were not taken seriously, or your complaints were brushed aside. That is the non-medical side of treatment – how hospitals listen, respond, and relate to you as a person – and it can shape your experience just as much as the pills or procedures.Soon, health facilities will be held responsibility also for this kind of treatment of patients.Dr Charles Kandie, the head of…
The main focus will the areas where women don’t have access to necessary capital to sustain themselves. An international initiative supporting women entrepreneurs in the cultivation and processing of medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) project has launched in Nairobi. The project aims at supporting women entrepreneurs in the cultivation and processing of medicinal and aromatic plants to strengthen capacity, innovation and sustainability in African agriculture. Speaking during the official launch of the project in Nairobi, the project coordinator of No Gravity, a non-governmental organisation, Gabriel Adamek, said the project will integrate work-based learning in experimental fields across Africa with professional lectures and…
Prof Elizabeth Bukusi, CS Aden Duale and Public Health PS Mary Muthoni at the inauguration of the commitee at Afya House on April 25, 2025.Independent committee to investigate tissue and organ transplant services has officially been inaugurated by the Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale.The 13-member committee ,which was constituted and gazetted following allegations of unethical breaches in kidney transplant procedures at Mediheal Hospital, is chaired by Prof Elizabeth Bukusi, a chief research officer at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (Kemri).It has been tasked with the responsibility to unravel the truth behind the allegations and formulate objective proposals to be implemented…
About 1.4 million Kenyans are living with HIV, according to Nascop.Kenyans seeking HIV treatment are no longer ushered to separate clinics for services.They now join the normal hospital queues and are served in the general clinics, a move known as integration.The National Empowerment Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Kenya (NEPHAK) welcomed the move saying it helps continuity of services after the US government stopped financing HIV services in Kenya. “Global funding cuts, particularly the temporary suspension of US aid in January, have significantly strained HIV care services in Kenya. One of the immediate consequences was a shortage of nevirapine…
Members of the Kenya Haemophilia Association (KHA) during their press conference in Nairobi on April 17, 2025. Photo/ Elisha Singira.The Kenya Haemophilia Association (KHA) has called on the government to honor the agreement made to patients with the condition.The board of the association said no more lives should be lost to the condition, which is treatable, but not curable.They spoke at a press briefing in Nairobi under the global theme ‘Access for all, Women and Girls bleed too’.Haemophilia is a medical condition in which the ability of the blood to clot is severely reduced, causing the sufferer to bleed severely from…
Former Chief Justice David Maraga. [PHOTO: FILE]Former Chief Justice David Maraga has sharply criticized the government over allegations that billions of shillings collected through the Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) program were deposited in Swiss bank accounts. The condemnation came after Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura, in a press statement, confirmed that a Swiss company involved in the early rollout of the eTA system received the funds. Mwaura explained that the decision to channel the money into Swiss accounts was part of the system’s pilot phase, implemented in partnership with the foreign firm. Mwaura assured the public that, going forward, all collections…
Pope FrancisThe Vatican has announced that Pope Francis continues to improve as he recovers at his residence in Casa Santa Marta.According to The Holy See Press Office, the Pope has continued to show improvement, and he even wrote the meditations for the Good Friday Via Crucis at Rome’s Colosseum.According to the Holy See Press Office, the Pope has shown steady improvement. Notably, he wrote the meditations for the Good Friday Via Crucis at the Colosseum in Rome.The Holy Father was discharged with “protected discharge” after being hospitalized for a polymicrobial infection that led to bilateral pneumonia. Since then, he has…