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We have been hearing and reading about Ebola in the last few months and instead of going further away from being a serious threat it is has become catastrophic. People are dying in West Africa at alarming rates and there is no cure in sight.
Up until recently, I was going about my daily life conscious about Ebola and its deadly effects but comforted in the knowledge that the government is in control of the situation and should there be an outbreak, it would be contained.
Watching the news last night, I nearly fell off the seat where I had been dozing off and on during news when I saw doctors protesting the country’s level of unpreparedness.
The good doctors acknowledged that in the nature of their work, they are continuously exposed to risk but said they refuse to die from preventable situations. They cited lack of training of health officials and lack of appropriate equipment.
In one of the news items thereafter, we were shown an isolation unit at the Kenyatta National Hospital which is a few weeks from completion.
Friends, Ebola is one of the deadliest outbreaks we may ever deal with in our lifetime. It is devastating innocent lives a few hours from where we are. We are constantly fearful that we will wake up to the news that Ebola is in Kenya.
If it does happen, and the situation gets out of hand as is happening in Liberia, will we forgive ourselves for doing nothing despite having had the benefit of notice? Will we simply say our government did not do enough as we watch our loved ones writhe in pain and devastation?
Will we simply watch our people die and suffer and thereafter watch documentaries showing “outbreak terror in Kenya” or “death captured on camera” as we see in the internet?
Apart from the pain and death caused by Ebola, there is isolation that the country would suffer and the economic downturn therefore. Our tourism has been wavering on the brink of collapse due to insecurity. Can you imagine what would happen if we added Ebola to the equation? Even local tourists would avoid public places such as hotels and beaches if Ebola hit Kenya. Already, I am told tourists have started giving us a wide berth.
What must we do now?
I have no answer but I do know that our government owes us this one duty; to protect us from Ebola.
Health Cabinet Secretary, Mr James Macharia, allow me to acknowledge that you have a tough job in this one but that it must be done.
You see Hon Macharia, the Constitution at Article 46 provides that every person has the right to the highest attainable standard of health. Article 21 then states that the State shall take legislative, policy and other measures to achieve the right to health and other fundamental rights. It is in that context that I seek to know whether in view of the catastrophic nature of Ebola, there is a comprehensive government policy in place on Ebola. Are there policy guidelines in place and are they sufficiently understood so that if a case is reported, the country knows what steps to take? What about expertise on Ebola? Do we have a critical mass of health workers trained? Do we have the other necessary facilities in place?
Allow me to remind to you that Kenyans have suffered enough in the recent past due to some lapse or other on the part of some Ministry or other; of course you remember the security issues we have had recently and the first year anniversary of Westgate that we observed last month.
We do not want to observe the first or any anniversary of Ebola devastation in this country and we therefore demand that your Ministry puts into place the necessary infrastructure to shield us from Ebola. Hon Macharia, the matter is urgent; it is extremely urgent in fact and I wish to put you on notice that unless the necessary infrastructure is in place forthwith, then we will have to seek that the courts compel you to do so.
We will do so, Hon Macharia because we are not willing to become statistics, while we have had more than enough early warning signs.