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Saturday 19 March 2011

MEDICAL SERVICES MINISTER SHUNS HEALTH MATTERS FOR POLITICS

Kicking someone, while they are on the ground  is universally derided. Yet Kenya's Medical Services minister, Prof. Anyang' Nyong'o invited criticism, when he opted to talk politics instead of responding to critical issues of an ailing government hospital.

Hardly a week had passed after the story of Nyong'o's battle with Prostrate Cancer was the subject of a Citizen TV news feature.

And on his return from America, where he had gone to seek 'the best' available treatment, the minister had pledged to help revamp the provision of medical care in the country, although his main thrust was the need for a national social health insurance policy.

So one would naturally have expected Nyong'o to maintain that momentum, especially in the wake of the shocking story of an overstretched and understaffed Kiambu Districts Hospital.

The allure of fighting political battles with perceived enemies however, perhaps became too strong for the Medical Services minister, such that he could comfortably call a press conference to discuss ODM party affairs at the Health Ministry head offices.

And to make matters worse, when a question was posed to him about the sorry state of the hospital in Kiambu, he brushed it aside and said  he had only planned to discuss political matters on that particular day.



Trust a politician to elevate politics over a life and death issue for many citizens, never mind their medical welfare is a significant part of Anyang' Nyong'o's ministerial docket.

The clause requiring government ministers not to be elected politicians, should perhaps have been effected immediately after the new Constitution was promulgated.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

As much as you are entitled to your views, please note that there is time for everything, I mean time for politics and health matters. You should have watched the same minister in Capital talk refusing to talk politicks and sticking to health matters.

Anonymous said...

He got healed and forgot the tens others rotting in the villages. Nkt

Anonymous said...

...nyong'o, cancer recurs..jst pray uaz doesn't cz u'll pray sam1 end ua suffering by shooting u.

Albert Gachiri said...

It is all very fine for the minister to have refuse to engage in politics and stick to health matters during that episode of Capital Talk. But what is expected is that whenever health matters are raised, while he is discussing politics, the health matters should never ever be brushed aside. You can say no to politics as a Minister of Medical Services once in a while, but its absurd for you to say no to discussing health matters at any given time.

Anonymous said...

The issue of CNN coverage about Mathari Hospital also needs urgent attention, and response to those with unanswered questions. After all, politics is not urgent really, and no one is going to die simply because political issues are put on hold.

Anonymous said...

Ridiculous doesn't even start to describe this! This is why we should hire professionals to ministerial posts and leave politicians to their politics. Hopefully with the new constitution such behavior will be a thing of the past.

Anonymous said...

not suprising given the nature of our absurd political class in Kenya. he thinks now that his balls have been checked in the US he's fine.. wrong!! cancer usually makes a very nasty comeback