Friday, 30 October 2015
60 Kenyans die daily of #TB and 200 get infected daily with #TB because of a failed health system which is in denial
@KELINKenya @NJotwoma @KTNKenya @CDCgov @RESULTS_Tweets @USAID @USAID .@M_Raviglione @WHO @MalecheAllan @CHSKenya @StopTB @NTLD @MinHeathKE @TAGTeam_Tweets Success in eradicating #TB should not only be measured with data in terms cure rate but also commensurate with how many reached with information,How many and how of the affected communities are meaningfully involved or reached out with information which is key to prevention of #TB and a cheaper strategy .In #TB programming this is the least funded area in resource allocation at the tip of a cone upside down and this is where the community is and #TB is in the community and programmers at the cone base which is wider and thicker with more experts being created to deplete the scarce resources
Thursday, 29 October 2015
Wednesday, 28 October 2015
At African Union–India meeting in Delhi, African leaders and India should work together to protect access to affordable medicines by Shailly Gupta MSF Access Campaign New Delhi
New Delhi, 26 October 2015—As African leaders meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi for an African Union-India meeting this week, Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) urged African governments and India to work together to maintain trade in affordable generic medicines that is a lifeline for millions of people in India, Africa and other developing countries.
India is under considerable bilateral pressure from the United States and other developed countries to roll back its pro-public-health intellectual property policies that has put access to vital lifesaving generic drugs above the profits of multinational pharmaceutical companies. India is known as the ‘pharmacy of the developing world,’ with more than 80% of HIV medicines used in developing countries, for example, being generics from India.
“In 2005 when India needed to amend its patent laws, the government made the conscious decision to protect people over profits and implemented some key pro-public health provisions”, said Leena Menghaney, Head-South Asia, MSF Access Campaign. “India’s policies have allowed for the production of affordable generic medicines which many millions of people across the developing world, including Africa, rely on.”
The historical lack of patent barriers in India opened up generic production of some older antiretroviral drugs, allowing the price of HIV drugs to be driven down from over US$10,000 per person per year in 2000; today the recommended first-line treatment costs governments in Africa and India just over $100 per patient per year, and 15 million people in the developing world now receive HIV treatment.
MSF uses generic medicines made in India to treat more than 200,000 people living with HIV in its programmes, and relies on Indian generics to treat many other diseases and conditions, such as drug-resistant tuberculosis.
“The Indian Prime Minister must consider the need to combat growing epidemics such as drug-resistant tuberculosis, where treatment for just one patient can cost several thousand dollars”, said Menghaney. “The cost of newer drugs to treat multi drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) could be cut by up to 95% if generic versions could be produced in India the same way as HIV drugs. India needs to continue its production and supply of lower-cost generics, which are essential for public health.”
“We were able to scale up HIV treatment in our programmes because Indian generic medicines made treatment more affordable,” said Dr. Gilles Van Cutsem, Medical Coordinator for MSF in South Africa. “We shudder at the threats that the India faces from the US government, other developed countries, and multinational drug companies. Any shift in India’s policy would dramatically undermine access to affordable medicines that we need in India, across Africa and beyond.”
MSF is urging African leaders and India to work together to combat efforts to undermine the ‘pharmacy of the developing world’.
“African leaders really should see this summit as an opportunity to work together with Prime Minister Modi to protect affordable access for people across the developing world”, said Dr Van Cutsem. “They need to remember that millions of people in Africa are alive today because of affordable medicines made in India.”
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Shailly Gupta
MSF Access Campaign
New Delhi
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Posted by: Shailly Gupta
Tuesday, 27 October 2015
Tuesday, 20 October 2015
BACKGROUND ON IMMUNISATION IN KENYA
The Ministry of Health and partners like Global Alliance for Vaccines & Immunization (GAVI) and UNICEF has over many years continued to save the lives of children from life threatening diseases like TB, whooping cough, diphtheria, measles, pneumonia, meningitis, tetanus and polio.
In 2012, the progress was remarkable! 82% of all Kenyan children under 2 years attained the required immunizations. The government pursued all efforts to ensure the reduction of infant and child diseases and deaths. Kenya was in line with international policies aimed at drastically reducing child mortality by 2015.
However, latest administrative data reveal an alarming drop in Immunization Coverage in Kenya. By June 2014, the coverage had dropped from 82% to 68%. This means that a whopping 420,000 Kenyan children are currently not protected from vaccine preventable illnesses. In other words, 1 out of 4 children is not fully vaccinated against dangerous diseases such as neo-natal tetanus, measles and pneumonia. According to a UNICEF report, a new-born in Kenya and Burundi has the lowest chance in East Africa of surviving to celebrate their 5th birthday.
Imagine the emotional trauma families have to go through after witnessing death of a child from an illness that could have been prevented by vaccines at zero financial cost! The country is risking its economy base, i.e. a healthy human capital.
Similarly, news on TV, newspapers and radio has poured out reports on negligence and controversies surrounding vaccines. Primarily, the concern about the safety of certain vaccines and secondly the gross violation of medical ethics by government nurse causing severe harm to over 29 children in Busia. Regardless of the differences in both factors, children’s rights to accessing lifesaving vaccines are being violated.
UNMET INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATIONS TO SUPPORT CHILDIMMUNIZATIONS
Kenya has constrained its partnership with GAVI; a key international partner in child health. Between 2008 and 2013, GAVI granted Kenya a generous USD 120 million to support our vaccines program and to strengthen the health system. GAVI supported Kenya in the introduction of pentavalent and pneumococcal vaccines in 2001 and 2010, respectively.
However, Kenya has outstanding financial reports from previous grants from GAVI Alliance. As a result, we are missing out on a USD 2 Million “reward” that Kenya earned from reaching extra children with vaccines.
Although Kenya is eligible for more grants, the lack of accountability for previous GAVI grants, some dating back as late as 2008, , means that the GAVI Alliance will not release the $34 Million Grant until these reports are submitted.
GETTING BACK ON TRACK TO SAVE THE LIVES OF KENYAN CHILDREN
The current immunization coverage of 68% requires more effort than ever, to get back to 82% and further achieve the required WHO standard of 90% coverage. Emphasis must be put on the responsibility of duty bearers especially government, in ensuring that children access their right to vaccines. The unlawfulness surrounding harm caused on children by denying them lifesaving vaccines cannot be over emphasized.
In addition, the success of Kenya’s immunization Programme largely depends on adequate and timely financing of all proposed activities for vaccines and immunization. In regard to the confirmed audit queries on the funds given by GAVI Alliance to support immunization services and strengthen the healthy system, Parliament should compel the Ministry of Health to address these audit queries as soon as possible.
Lastly, there is need for the Ministry of Health to begin holding regular meetings with County Executives for Health and address the controversies around vaccines and assure Kenyans that vaccines are safe. Similarly, the MOH also needs to develop the capacities of County governments to effectively deliver immunizations services in a safe manner.
SOURCE ; Kenya AIDS NGOs Consortium,
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Child Immunization Issue and Vaccines situation in Kenya @MinHealthKE
Dear Citizen Advocates,
Greetings from KANCO Secretariat in this new month September 1, 2015. Aren’t we glad that we are alive to continue making the world a better place?
In August 24, 2015 KANCO sent out the attached Action Sheet. It highlights the Child Immunization Issue for our advocacy from Sept to Nov 2015. We hope that the issue has geared you up for some action. The latest statistics illustrates that more than 400,000 Kenyan children are not fully protected from lifesaving vaccines despite them being relatively cost effective and has the highest impact on Kenya’s economy.
Imagine as children, if you and I were not vaccinated against diseases like diarrhoea, whooping cough, TB and polio. The reality in Kenya is that more children are not being vaccinated every year. The UNICEF report reveals that a new-born in Kenya and Burundi has the lowest chance in East Africa of surviving to celebrate their 5th birthday!
Vaccines in Kenya has faced a lot of controversies lately further depriving the children the right to access vaccines. However, these controversies were settled. The Catholic Church softened its position and said that the vaccines are safe. Pope Francis will come before the end of the year to reiterate the same. The Ministry of Health which is the major Authority says the vaccines are safe. Nonetheless, children’s rights to lifesaving vaccines are being violated.
We are advocating on behalf of children who cannot access the vaccines by themselves. We are asking the Government to prioritize child health in Kenya. Please read the attached action sheet for more information. Consider taking action today so as to save a whole generation.
Kenya’s vision 2030 is depends on a people that are healthy. If we save the lives of children now, they will live long enough to realize vision 2030 on their 15th birthday. But currently we are grappling with the fact that only 68% of the children are accessing vaccines, it is even worse in Mandera where only 27.7% of the children are fully protected from vaccine preventable illnesses. A whole generation wiped out and denied the right to live.
Take action NOW, invite your group members. We are looking forward to your reports on the action you have taken.
Sincerely,
JOYCE MATOGO
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