Hunger in Kenya Essay Example

services. African countries bear a significant burden of global health issues, as research indicates that 300 African mothers experience child loss every hour. Additionally, more than 3.5 million African children lost their lives in 2014 alone.

The increased number of deaths is directly related to poverty and hunger, with the lack of medical services at the grassroots level contributing to preventable deaths. Women are unable to seek medical services and must stay home with their children due to a lack of funds for travel.

Structure of the Health System in Kenya

The Kenyan health system operates under a hierarchical structure, with the Ministry of Health overseeing all levels. This structure includes health centers, dispensaries, nursing homes, sub-district hospitals, private and district hospitals, as well as provincial and national-level hospitals. Unfortunately, this division has resulted in inefficiency and overlap in both implementation and planning processes within the health sector.

The highest quality healthcare services are offered by the national level hospital, while provincial and sub-district hospitals provide slightly lower quality care. Regrettably, lower-level facilities such as dispensaries and health sectors receive limited support and funding from the government, resulting in a lack of attention. However, it is important to note that the Kenyan government has embraced NGO assistance in its healthcare system. The National Health Sector Strategic Plan II (NHSSP II) governs the overall national health system and unifies public and private healthcare through the Sector Wide Approach (SWAp).

The World Health Organization reports that Kenya is experiencing difficulties in creating a reliable healthcare system to cater to its population of over 30 million people. Some areas lack access to healthcare, leading individuals to depend on traditional remedies. The distribution of

medicine and healthcare professionals is hindered by poverty and limited accessibility in certain regions. Kenya's average life expectancy, which ranges from 54-56%, is considerably lower than the global average of 68%.

According to statistics, the mortality rate for children under four years old ranges from 121 per 1000 live births to as low as 150 for the poorest 20 percent of the population. Hunger and poverty are identified as the primary factors contributing to this high rate.

The Health care system in Kenya

In Kenya, there is a combination of national healthcare institutions and private medical sectors that offer enhanced healthcare services and advanced medical equipment. Nevertheless, accessing sufficient medical care remains a challenge for many individuals at the grassroots level in the country.

The healthcare system in Kenya is primarily focused in urban areas, making it difficult for the majority of the population to access. The high cost of healthcare in cities prevents most Kenyans from using it, resulting in a significant death rate within the country. Furthermore, regions like northeastern Kenya lack basic necessities such as water and food supplies, which means that marginalized areas are not prioritized by the government when it comes to medical staff or healthcare services. As a result, life expectancy is low and mortality rates are high in these areas. Additionally, poor road conditions and heightened security concerns further worsen the already limited access to medicine and proper healthcare.

Extreme poverty and hunger in the North Eastern region contribute to a reduced lifespan for many children. This semi-desert area suffers from insufficient food and water resources, resulting in limited healthcare opportunities and widespread starvation. NGOs have been working to address these issues, but

poverty and hunger remain significant challenges.

References

Aidam, B. A., Edward, A., Paden, A. C., Wong, R.

Y., ; Chege, J. (2016). Addressing Anemia in Women and Children in Rural Communities of Cambodia and Kenya: Experiences from an Integrated Program. The FASEB Journal, 30(1 Supplement), 892-12 Jamison, D. T. (2015).

Disease Control Priorities: improving health and reducing poverty. The Lancet. Mohajan, H. K. (2014).

The American Journal of Public Health Research, in volume 2, issue 4 and on pages 159-169, discusses the improvement of Kenya's healthcare system. The authors of this article are Nonvignon, J., Mensah, E., Vroom, F. B. D. C., Adjei, S., and Gyapong, J.

O. (2016). The Role of Health Systems in the Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases in Sub-Saharan Africa. In Neglected Tropical Diseases-Sub-Saharan Africa (pp.

385-405). Springer International Publishing Study.com (2013-2016). Risk Factors for Contracting Communicable Diseases. Retrieved from: http://study.com/academy/lesson/risk-factors-for-contracting-communicable-diseases.htm World Health Organization (2016).

The text discusses the risk factors for contracting communicable diseases and provides a reference to a study conducted by Springer International Publishing Study.com from 2013 to 2016. The source also includes information from the World Health Organization in 2016. The full citation can be found at the given URL.

Global infectious disease surveillance retrieved from: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs200/en. World Health Organization (2016). Communicable diseases in the South-East Asia Region of the World Health Organization: towards a more effective response.

In order to achieve a more effective response, the World Health Organization (WHO) provides global infectious disease surveillance information for communicable diseases in the South-East Asia Region. The data can be accessed at http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs200/en.