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By Alex Juma
The Health Nongovernmental Organizations Network (HENNET) in conjunction with the global cleft charity Smile Train has appealed on the Kenyan government to leave no one health behind and invest in the health system for all as everybody’s future is dependent upon a resilient health system.
Smile Train empowers local medical professionals with training, funding and resources to provide free cleft surgery and comprehensive cleft care to children globally.
They advance a sustainable solution and scalable global health model for cleft treatment, drastically improving children’s lives including their ability to eat, breathe, speak and ultimately thrive.
The duo asked the government to pay attention to the needs of people with cleft lip and palate and ensure they are not left behind.
Cleft lip and palate is a common facial birth defect that affects one in 700 globally.
Its cause remains unknown, but it is associated with genetics, nutritional deficiency, smoking and drinking and taking medication without prescription during pregnancy.
Speaking during the inaugural webinar on the International UHC day, HENNET CEO Dr.Mercy Onsando said that health sector in Kenya continues to face critical challenges including inadequacy of medical professionals, lack of essential medical products and equipment, low insurance coverage which may hinder achievements of UHC target.
“Strides are being achieved by UHC but persons with cleft are still left behind in accessing safe, quality and timely treatment. Access to information regarding the available services, poor infrastructure, stigma, insufficient policies and lack of finances hinder cleft lip and palate children from accessing UHC services. I urge the government to increase domestic financing for UHC and ring-fence health funds at the county levels to avoid relocating these funds to other sectors at the expense of health agenda,” said Dr. Onsando.
She further urged citizens to register with the National Health Social Insurance Fund(NHIF) for a sustainable way to ensure access to safe, effective and quality health care services including affordable essential medicines and vaccines without suffering financial hardships.
According to Mrs Jane Ngige Muturi, Smile Train Program Director East Africa; there’s a huge backlog of patients lacking access to treatment due to unfounded myths and misconceptions whereby in some communities children are isolated, stigmatized, abandoned or even murdered.
“It’s difficult to live with untreated cleft and associated physical challenges. Missed opportunities to make friends or even go to school and secure a healthy, productive future due to societal judgement at face value,” she said.
Mrs Ngige stated that over 200,000 children are born with a cleft globally every year.
