The world March of Women -Kenyan Chapter becomes first group to engage Parliament after the passing of the New Constitution…..
IMPROVE MATERNAL HEALTH: IS ACHIEVING MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOAL FIVE (MDG 5) ELUDING KENYA?
Press Release: World March Of Women Kenya Chapter To Present On Thurday 19th August 2010 A Petition For Action To Kenya Parliament On Millennium Development Goal 5 To Improve Maternal Health And Prevent Deaths Of Mothers And Children From Preventable Diseases
Aug 18th, 2010 by Mars Group Kenya
PRESS RELEASE
MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOAL 5 : IMPROVE MATERNAL HEALTH IN KENYA.
ACTION BY PETITIONING PARLIAMENT TO INCREASE THE BUDGET ALLOCATION TO MATERNAL HEALTH CARE & PREVENTION OF DEATHS OF KENYAN MOTHERS AND CHILDREN FROM PREVENTABLE DISEASES.
We the world March of women Kenyan chapter;
Undertaking the role of motherhood with pride that it disserves,;
Honouring our mother country with our God given productive role
Acknowledging that;
- Kenya has just passed a new constitution that recognises reproduction health as a basic right for every Kenyan,
- That Kenya is a signatory to the 5th millennium goal ‘to improve maternal health’
- Kenya pledged to increase health sector allocations by upto 15% of government expenditure in Abuja and reconfirmed its commitment at the AU summit in Kampala in July 2010
- Kenya committed itself to invest more in community health workers
Respecting the fact that even though complication of pregnancy cannot always be prevented, deaths can be averted if women receive proper medical care
Recognising that the government is the custodian of our consolidated fund and parliament is responsible for proper budgetary allocations
Believing that the women of Kenya are the backbone of this nation call upon;
- Kenyan government to honour its pledge to the women of Kenya.
- Parliament to increase allocations to the health sector and more specifically to maternal health care and preventable diseases.
- Parliament to establish a select committee to look into maternal and child deaths.
- Parliament to identify funds within the National budget which can be re-allocated to immediate needs for maternal health.
- Parliament to celebrate international women’s day and international Children’s day as official parliamentary occasions in solidarity with all women and children of Kenya.
Tomorrow, Thursday, 19th August 2010, World march of Women Kenya Chapter together with our partners and networks will commence action towards advocating for improved maternal health and prevention of deaths of Kenyan women and children from preventable diseases.
We will present the petition to parliament at 10.00 a.m on thursday 19th August 2010 and thereafter announce the launch of our online international campaign to collect ten million signatures worldwide in solidarity with all the countries that are committed to achieving millennium development goal No.5
Issued on Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at Nairobi Kenya, by the
World March of Women – Kenya Coordinating Body
1. Anne Ngatia
2. Lydiah Dola
3. Anne Apiyo
4. Beatrice Kamau
5. Jayne Mati
6. Deborah Kayalo Sagasi
7. Ruth Vulimu Limo
8. Jackline Wangare
9. Damaris Toboso
10. Florence Keya
11. Betty Sang
12. Tafle Omar
13. Jane Onyango
14. Mumbi Njau
15. Sophie D. Ogutu
PUBLIC PETITION
Pursuant to Standing Order 205 (2)
SUBJECT MATTER: BUDGETARY ALLOCATION FOR MATERNAL HEALTH CARE AND FOR PREVENTING DEATHS OF KENYAN MOTHERS AND CHILDREN FROM PREVENTABLE DISEASES
To The National Assembly of Kenya
We, the undersigned
Petitioners are Citizens of the Republic of Kenya and wish to
Draw the attention of the House to the following:
In 2001, Kenya along with other African countries pledged at Abuja to increase allocation to the health sector up to 15% of government expenditure.
This pledge was repeated again in the recently concluded African Union Summit in Kampala, 19 to 27 July 2010;
African leaders including Kenyan have pledged to invest more in community health workers and re-committed to meeting the Abuja target. In the meantime, national budget allocations to health remain far below this target.
The Kenya budget for the fiscal year 2010-11 allocated slightly over Kenya shillings 55 billion to both ministries of Medical Services and Public Health and Sanitation. This is approximately 5.5 percent of the total Government of Kenya expenditure. About 41 percent of this allocation went to the Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation, which is responsible for primary health care including maternal health care up to Level 3 (health centre). Considering that this allocation translates to about 2.3 percent of total GOK expenditure, it is apparent that extremely little will be available for maternal health services.
In our view, this level of investment (about 2.3 percent of total GOK expenditure allocated to primary health care) does not reflect a strong government commitment to achieving MDG5 by 2015; it does not demonstrate high prioritization of maternal and newborn death prevention and reduction among the national priorities.
Further, 480 children die every day from preventable disease
THEREFORE your humble petitioners PRAY that Parliament
1. Resolve to urge the Government to fulfil its commitment to increase allocation to the health sector up to 15% of government expenditure within the current Financial Year, In addition, the Government should ensure more funds are channeled to maternal health services.
2. Resolve to establish a select Committee to look into Maternal and child deaths and working with experts to identify funds within the National Budget which can be reallocated to meet the target commitment.
3. Resolve to celebrate International Women’s Day and International Children’s Day as official parliamentary occasions in solidarity with all women and Children of Kenya
And your PETITIONERS will ever pray
