Ministry Of Health launches Medically Assisted Therapy (MAT) Story by Albert Bwana.

Ministry Of Health launches Medically Assisted Therapy (MAT)

Story by Albert Bwana.

Kenya’s ministry of health in partnership with the United States has launched a Medically Assisted Therapy (MAT) treatment program that reduces craving for opoids and drug dependency.

Speaking during the launch at Mathari Teaching and Referral Hospital , Cabinet secretary for Health James Macharia lauded the initiative noting that it will transform the drug addicts to fit in the society as they have been neglected. .

He called upon parents to be watchful on the ongoing of their children with whom they spend time with to avoid cases of them being trapped in the drug abuse that might destroy their lives.

“It is projected that over 9000 drug users will be enrolled on MAT over the next five years “ said Macharia  adding that more than 380 injected heroin users in Nairobi and 144 in Malindi have been initiated this year.

In the venue the US Ambassador Robert Godec adduced that US play a major role through donations in the ministry of health in fighting drug abuse for the safety of youngsters who are to drive the Kenyan economy ahead.

The Ambassador added that HIV is a threat to the nation as it kills urging the youths to be weary of it and use protection as it is a safety measure.

“Drug addiction robs the life of the user totally as he/she is neglected in the society “ said Godec.

Steven Mwangi a drug addict, narrates his story by saying his life changed completely when he was introduced by his friend where he started using all types of drugs making him to pickpocket people to get money and and use it to buy drugs,he travelled in the major towns of Kenya doing the evil things until well-wishers came to his help .

Steven was later taken for rehabilitation for guidance and counseling and he came to terms that drugs can really kill and destroy ambitions and he reformed.

The Director of medical services, Nicholas Muraguli thanked the US government for the kind of support they offering and urged the Kenyan government to cheap in some donations in pushing forward the programme .

“It is estimated that 18,000 people living in Kenya are injecting illicit drugs like heroin for non medical reasons using needle by sharing putting their lives into a risk of getting other diseases “said Muraguli.

The MAT program was started in Mathari Teaching and referral Hospital in Nairobi Dec 2014 and in Malindi hospital 2015.Plans is underway to expand the program to coast provincial general hospital, Kisauni Health centre, Kwale hospital and Nairobi county clinics.

Ends.

Ministry Of Health launches Medically Assisted Therapy (MAT)

Story by Albert Bwana.

Kenya’s ministry of health in partnership with the United States has launched a Medically Assisted Therapy (MAT) treatment program that reduces craving for opoids and drug dependency.

Speaking during the launch at Mathari Teaching and Referral Hospital , Cabinet secretary for Health James Macharia lauded the initiative noting that it will transform the drug addicts to fit in the society as they have been neglected. .

He called upon parents to be watchful on the ongoing of their children with whom they spend time with to avoid cases of them being trapped in the drug abuse that might destroy their lives.

“It is projected that over 9000 drug users will be enrolled on MAT over the next five years “ said Macharia  adding that more than 380 injected heroin users in Nairobi and 144 in Malindi have been initiated this year.

In the venue the US Ambassador Robert Godec adduced that US play a major role through donations in the ministry of health in fighting drug abuse for the safety of youngsters who are to drive the Kenyan economy ahead.

The Ambassador added that HIV is a threat to the nation as it kills urging the youths to be weary of it and use protection as it is a safety measure.

“Drug addiction robs the life of the user totally as he/she is neglected in the society “ said Godec.

Steven Mwangi a drug addict, narrates his story by saying his life changed completely when he was introduced by his friend where he started using all types of drugs making him to pickpocket people to get money and and use it to buy drugs,he travelled in the major towns of Kenya doing the evil things until well-wishers came to his help .

Steven was later taken for rehabilitation for guidance and counseling and he came to terms that drugs can really kill and destroy ambitions and he reformed.

The Director of medical services, Nicholas Muraguli thanked the US government for the kind of support they offering and urged the Kenyan government to cheap in some donations in pushing forward the programme .

“It is estimated that 18,000 people living in Kenya are injecting illicit drugs like heroin for non medical reasons using needle by sharing putting their lives into a risk of getting other diseases “said Muraguli.

The MAT program was started in Mathari Teaching and referral Hospital in Nairobi Dec 2014 and in Malindi hospital 2015.Plans is underway to expand the program to coast provincial general hospital, Kisauni Health centre, Kwale hospital and Nairobi county clinics.

Ends.

 President Kenyatta bitter exchange with Raila

Story by Albert Bwana

President Kenyatta slammed out to the opposition leader over the remarks he made on the trade agreement that he signed between Kenya and Uganda .

                 The deal between President Kenyatta and his counterpart from Uganda was about Kenya importing sugar from Uganda in return Kenya to export meat and milk products.

Speaking during the closing of Eastern African Pan African congress, Kenyatta said that the agreement will enable Kenya to benefit 700million dollars in the trade exchange between the two countries.

“I urge my colleague Raila to correct me where am going wrong rather than criticizing all that I initiate for the betterment of the country”

In response opposition leader said that ,”allowing such an agreement will lead to the collapse of the local sugar manufacturing  industries in Kenya.”

  

We to recognize the challenges that we have and look for ways on how to overcome them as Africans.

The president of Kenya , Uhuru  Kenyatta  was addressing delegates   during the Eastern  Africa Region  Pan African Congress  at Kenyatta International conference centre.

He added that Africans should gourd well the constitution that they fought for back in the years and transform it for the future generation.

The President also noted that  East Africans  should be able to sale every country its goods instead of considering  other continents since they can boost the trade sector within themselves.

“ Africa we are  living in to date  is more democratic than the past “ said the President.

Ends

Sudan: Attacks in South Kordofan ‘constitute war crimes’
New report documents:
·        targeting of civilians, schools, hospitals and local relief organizations
·        indiscriminate aerial bombardments and ground offensives
·        use of cluster munitions and prohibited weapons
Government forces in Sudan have committed war crimes against the civilian population of South Kordofan, Amnesty International has definitively confirmed for the first time in a new report published today.
 
The report, Don’t we matter? Four years of unrelenting attacks against Civilians of Sudan’s South Kordofan State, chronicles the human cost of the conflict which has claimed hundreds of civilian lives and sparked a dire humanitarian crisis. It finds that indiscriminate aerial bombardments and ground offensives as well as the deliberate targeting of schools and hospitals constitute war crimes.
 
“For years Sudanese Armed Forces have been raining down bombs and shells indiscriminately on civilian populations, destroying lives and livelihood and triggering a major humanitarian crisis,” said Michelle Kagari, Amnesty International’s ‎Deputy Regional Director.
 
“Targeting civilian infrastructure and civilian areas which have no legitimate military objective, using prohibited weapons and other weapons in an indiscriminate way are war crimes. It is time for the international community to stop averting its gaze from South Kordofan and take urgent action to end this conflict.”
Conclusive evidence of war crimes 
 
Based on a research mission to the country, Amnesty International has found that Sudanese Armed Forces have targeted civilian areas and infrastructure which have no legitimate military objective.

The use of prohibited weapons – such as cluster bombs - launched from high flying aircraft, has resulted in civilian casualties. Amnesty International found cluster munitions at four sites in two separate locations in Dalami and Umm Dorain counties and heard testimony of how children have been killed playing with unexploded ordinance.

Between January and April 2015, the Sudanese Air Force dropped more than 374 bombs on 60 locations across South Kordofan under the control of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-North (SPLA-N). The aerial bombardments and ground shelling over this period resulted in the deaths of at least 35 civilians, injured a further 70 individuals, and damaged civilian buildings including schools.

Since the beginning of the conflict in 2011, 26 health facilities (hospitals, clinics and health units) have been bombed in SPLA-N controlled areas, some of which were clearly identified with flags and crosses on their roofs. Only two out of four hospitals in SPLA-N controlled areas are still functioning.
 
Alfadil Khalifa Mohamed described to Amnesty International how an Antonov aircraft bombing raid killed his pregnant wife and unborn child in an IDP camp where they sought refuge in Dalami county on 6 February. “The bomb fell, only about ten metres from where she was standing. I ran to where she was, but she was already dead. Our baby was still alive.  But there was no medical treatment available to save the baby’s life.”
 
The bombing campaign has left many afraid to work in their fields with devastating consequences for food security. The intensification of bombings during harvest time and the planting season raises concerns that this might be part of a deliberate strategy by the Sudanese government to hinder people’s ability to cultivate their crops.
 
Salha, an internally displaced person in Kimli IDP site, told Amnesty International researchers: “We haven’t planted anything for the past two years. We couldn’t because we had to run away. We are too afraid to work in our fields.”

Humanitarian crisis
The Sudanese government has refused to allow humanitarian relief into areas controlled by the SPLA-N exacerbating a protracted humanitarian crisis and has leaving the population without access to vaccinations and essential medicines.  Children in SPLA-N controlled areas in South Kordofan are excluded from an ongoing UNICEF/WHO immunization campaign against measles in Sudan. Between May 2014 and January 2015 an outbreak of measles claimed the lives of at least 30 of these children in one hospital alone.

Massive displacement has left around one-third of South Kordofan’s population of approximately 1.4 million people internally displaced, living in precarious and insecure conditions. According to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, close to 100,000 people have fled to refugee camps in neighbouring South Sudan, itself wracked by internal conflict.
 
“We have been telling the world but nothing changes”
Despite the ongoing conflict, now in its fifth year, and escalation of attacks in recent months, the regional and international response has all but ceased. There has been no UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution on South Kordofan since 2012.

 Recent UNSC resolutions and statements failed to address concerns in South Kordofan. African Union (AU) efforts to mediate the conflict between the Government of Sudan and the SPLM-N, facilitated by the AU High-Level Implementation Panel, ground to a halt in December 2014.
 
Alfadil Khalifa Mohamed, told Amnesty International: “We have been telling the world for four years about what is happening to us. The facts are well known. But nothing changes.”
 
Amnesty International is calling on the UNSC and the AU Peace and Security Council, to put pressure on the Government of Sudan and SPLM-N to allow for unfettered humanitarian access in South Kordofan.
 
“This conflict has settled into a vicious deadlock and international bodies must urgently re-engage in order to end these grave human rights violations and war crimes and to ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice,” said Michelle Kagari.
 
“War crimes cannot be allowed to be committed with impunity and a population facing a protracted humanitarian crisis can no longer be ignored by the world.”

The report is the outcome of a field mission carried out by Amnesty International researchers in May 2015.
Failure to distinguish between civilians and combatants is a breach of the fundamental “principle of distinction” under international humanitarian law. It is a war crime to intentionally direct attacks against civilians or civilian objects.