Calls for inclusion of the young and elderly voices in new SDGs

Nairobi, Friday 22 May, 2015: Archbishop Desmond Tutu is backing young and old to demand that everyone counts when governments agree global goals to reduce poverty at the UN later this year.  

“As we get older our rights do not change. As we get older, we are no less human and should not become invisible,” said 84-year-old Archbishop Desmond Tutu in a video released today. http://bit.ly/1HfzM1x  

“I want to tell the world that I count, that older people everywhere count and that people of all ages should be included in the Sustainable Development Goals,” he said as HelpAge International hosts a global Action All Ages campaign today (Friday May 22) as part of action/2015.

Life expectancy is on the rise and the demographic make-up of the world's population is changing at an unprecedented rate. Today, there are more than 895 million women and men aged 60 and over, representing 12 per cent of the global population. By 2030, this is projected to rise to 1.3 billion or 16 per cent while the proportion of people aged 15-24 will be 15 per cent.

May is the month when the global campaign, action/2015, hots up to highlight the importance of all ages in the Sustainable Development Goals being set for the next fifteen years at the United Nations in September and later at the UN Climate Change Conference COP21 in December.

The action/2015 May Month of Action will feature 14 Global Action Days - organized on themes of ageism, child health, faith and climate change, gender equality and hunger and nutrition - as well as hundreds of events including marches, concerts, flash mobs, workshops and debates throughout the month.

“This year decision-makers have the chance to include all ages in their plans for the years ahead,” said Toby Porter, Chief Executive Officer at HelpAge International.

“Across the world, from the Philippines to Zimbabwe, we are joining hands with the world’s older people, who too often go unheard and uncounted. We want to make sure older people are included in these goals to ensure they are legitimate,” he added.

Action All Ages events, to highlight the importance of the SDGs, will be taking place in ten countries around the world. (see list at end) 

Singer-songwriter, actress and entertainer, AvrilNyambura and fellow older musicians from Kenya have developed a campaign song, Hoja Zetu which will be shown at an event on the day in Kenya. 

http://bit.ly/1JtHZ2m

“I want to grow old knowing I will be listened to just as much as anyone else, at any age,” said Avril, best known for singles, Mama, Kitu Kimoja and Hakuna Yule.

“I have learnt so much from the older musicians I’ve worked with on this song. We love what we do because music connects people together. I know, like them I’ll be singing into my old age,” she said.

Age Demands Action campaigner in Kenya, Mama Rhoda Ngima, in her 70s, will be taking part in the day and said: “Just because I am old does not mean I am not passionate about my rights. I want this year to be the year I am heard, the year I am recognized and the year I am counted.”  

In Mongolia, the Mongolian Women’s Fund, MONES, is planning a ‘WALTZ DAY’ for older women and young people aiming to inspire and mobilise communities and the public to act together for all ages.

In Zimbabwe, an inter-generational panel will be organised to review the success and failures of the Millennium Development Goals and come up with recommendations for the post 2015 agenda focusing on ageing.

In Malawi, older and younger people are organizing an intergenerational public debate. Younger and older people will talk about what they hope to see in the SDGs.

After 100 days of Jubilee Government Kenya's poor face food insecurity

After 100 days of Jubilee Government Kenya s poor face food insecurity http://vimeo.com/83680664 About this video "24 Jul 2013 | by Martha Nyambura | Civil Society - Original Feature To meet its financial deficit the Kenyan government is proposing to tax basic commodities such as bread and maize flour. As a consequence, many of Kenya’s poor risk being food insecure. The current government took over last April. For ordinary Kenyans the new governments’ three month stay in office has done little to improve their living conditions."

Lavish spending shatters hopes devolution could be a game-changer in Kenya

By Wairimu Nyambura 

 http://vimeo.com/87489527

Lavish spending shatters hopes devolution could be a game-changer in Kenya http://vimeo.com/87489527 About this video "16 Jul 2013 | by Martha Nyambura | ì | Civil Society - Original Feature In March 2013, Kenyans went to the polls to vote for a devolved type of government that ideally should have seen power and development brought closer to the people. However, recent media reports show that the counties extravagant expenses are threatening to push development to the back seat. Kibera slum residents told IPSTV Correspondent in Kenya Martha Nyambura they had expected positive change to come soon."

Mother mentor model to reduce HIV infection

By Wairimu Nyambura

Sept 25/2013

A new initiative that aims to reduce mother to child HIV transmission is underway in Kenya.

The program dubbed “mentor to mother” employs mothers who are already HIV positive to act as health care providers for pregnant HIV mothers and new mothers.

Dr. Maxwell Omondi, the head of the initiative said the program aims to complement the services of nurses and doctors government in health facilities in the country.

“The role of nurses in most health facilities has increased over the years but their numbers have not hence this program aims to bridge the gap in terms of quality health delivery,” said Dr. Omondi.

 He added that the program model puts women at the centre of HIV reduction efforts in Kenya.
He added that the programme is having a positive impact, by reducing HIV transmission from mother to child.

“Adherence levels to Anti Retroviral (ARV) drugs used to treat HIV has increased with more babies born without the virus,” notes Peris Njoki one of the mentor mothers overseeing five mentor mothers in the program at the slum based Mathari North Health Centre in Nairobi.

However, Ms. Njoki admits that there are challenges with the mothers in the program brought on by poverty.
“Most women in the program are forced to relocate from one slum to the other due to challenges in paying rent making it difficult to adhere to the program,” she says.

There are over 1.4 million pregnant women in low and middle income countries infected with HIV most of them from Sub-Saharan Africa. The mentor to mother program rolled out in parts of Nairobi and Western Kenya, is now being promoted in nearly 100 government health facilities.

Making a case for Kenya's White Gold

By Martha Nyambura

Jan 2011

Pastoralists in semi-arid and arid areas must embrace innovation to manage risks that stem from prolonged drought.

“Pastoralists in Kenya continue to face risks brought about by drought, conflict and unfavorable livestock marketing policies says “, Dr.Hussein Mahmoud a senior lecturer at Pwani University College in Kilifi.

Speaking at a  pastoralists forum  dubbed the’ University of the bush’ at the Malka Bisan Adi cultural group, Kiina division , Dr.Mahmoud cited the need  for  new approaches if pastoralists are to have sustainable development

Livestock trading in recent years has experienced tremendous growth due to expanding markets and networks.  Sales volume of key pastoral livestock species of camel, cattle, sheep and goats has soared as regional markets expand to accommodate growth.

 The exponential growth of Garissa market in northeast and Moyale in northern Kenya is mainly attributed expanding cattle sales since the late 90s. The camel market has started picking in recent years with Moyale market having a turnover of one billion shillings in a year. A camel is eighth times that of a cattle. A small camel goes for Sh 25, 000 and a medium sized camel fetches around Sh 45 -80, 000.

The livestock turnover in the country is about Sh 2billion in a year a figure that Dr. Mahmoud cites as low due to failure by government to tap into this emerging market. Cattle in the country remain a commodity for consumption with camels being exported to the Middle Eastern countries in large numbers.

Dr. Mahmoud attributes this growth in the market to changing perceptions over time. Camels are desert animals and they have a high drought resistance, making them a better investment compared to cattle. It is the persistent drought in Northern Kenya that is leading to the heavy investments by residents in this sector.

Moyale is the hub where camels from southern Ethiopia, southern Somalia, and northern, northeastern and coastal Kenya converge for sale. The camels are transported in on two different routes to Egypt. One  via trucks from Moyale-Nazareth-Djibouti then to Egypt by sea and  from Nazareth-Hamara in Ethiopia to Sudan.

Camels are sourced from Moyale due to escalating prices in Sudan and the recent conflict in Darfur closed up the market. Middle Eastern consumers demand for a cheap source of protein has been a major contributor to the growth of the trade. 

Camels from Ethiopia, Eritrea and Sudan are mainly consumed in Egypt. Ethiopia is the transit point for most of the camels as it has favourable government policies making it easy for the traders to conduct their business.

The trade is dependent on brokers, who act as the middlemen negotiating on price and storage fees.  They act as a link between the Sudanese exporters and local pastoralists and sometimes as guarantors for both sides.

Pastoralists in Garissa are now diverting their camels to this pristine market where the returns are higher.  As more camels go to the Moyale market for export to the Middle East, urban consumers are been deprived of their camel demand.

 Kenya continues to lose billions of shillings by not investing in this new venture while countries like Ethiopia and Sudan reap the benefits.

(Written in 2011)

Giving Herbal Medicine Legal status in Kenya

By Wairimu Nyambura

Nov 2010

The lack of proper legislation for traditional medicine and medicinal plants by the government continues to expose three quarters of Kenyans who depend on traditional medicine to quacks operating within the lucrative herbal industry.

The failure by the government to table the three year old bill dubbed 'The traditional herbal medicine and medicinal plants Bill 2008', continues to put at risk not only the health of the public but also indigenous knowledge of traditional herbalist that dates back to the cradle of mankind, says Dr.Esther Matu, a traditional medicine and drug researcher at the Kenya Medical Research Institute -KEMRI.

"It is crucial for government to put in place the relevant legal framework and policy to protect the public from quackswho take advantage of needy Kenyans who cannot access conventional medicine mainly because it is expensive,"said Dr.Matu who was addressing a Science cafe forum at a Nairobi hotel.

The traditional herbal medicine and medicinal plants Bill 2008, aims at giving local herbalist the chance to conserve the bio diversity of medicinal plants that are slowly becoming unavailable mainly due to changing climatic conditions.

It also aims at protecting intellectual property rights of herbalist, whose skills are mostly acquired through the family lineage and enable policy and regulatory framework for research and development.

The Pharmacy and poisons board, in the past has conducted crack downs on counterfeits medicine operating in the country.  

According to the boards recent publication, most herbalists lack the proper equipment to eradicate impurities in the herbs they use since most are still dependent on traditional methods of producing medicinal drugs. The results are high levels of toxicity in the end product for consumers. The board plans to come up with proper guidelines aimed at regulating counterfeits in the country.

Proper legislation would ensure high standardization levels to curb the issues of toxicity in the drugs been consumed, notes the board.

Traditional herbalists fall under the ministry of gender and social services however the bill has been drafted by the Ministry of state for Planning, National Development and Vision 2030 irking stakeholders in the industry who want it under the Ministry of Health to speed up legislation.

Medical herbalist Dr. Jack Githae, says the lack of political good will has created an impediment in the legislation of the bill.

He notes that proper legislation will help remove stigmatization of the herbal industry as most herbalists will be vetted to protect the public from those out to make a quick buck.

"The herbal industry has always been viewed negatively with some Kenyans associating it to witch craft but legislation will help to subject traditional medicine to conventional scientific research that will help alleviate any stigma in the industry."

Dr. Githae says the fear by herbalist that their indigenous knowledge could fall to the wrong hands, has led low documentation of treatment methods forcing many herbalists to rely on testimonials from patients to help promote their work.

The bill, he says, will protect intellectual property and empower traditional healers.

He cites the need to change the current medical curriculum in local universities to incorporate traditional medicine and tap this wealth of indigenous knowledge.

Dr. Githae boasts of having a monogram of 7, 500 medicinal plants in place, he is also a regional member of traditional medicine under the World Health Organisation(WHO).

According to WHO,one way of validating medicine is through applied research, based on prolonged usage. Dr. Githae claims that traditional medicine has met this criteria and the lack of legislation keeps on delaying much needed growth of the industry.

Presently Nigeria boasts of having patented a drug that treats sickle cell anemia, while Kenya is in the process of patenting a drug that treats oral and vaginal herpes simplex called Anti-HSV.

Stakeholders say that the legislation of the bill will protect the industry from vested interests who exploit the medicinal plants in the country, while communities from where the plants are harvested don’t enjoy the economic benefits.

According to a recent publication, industrial enzymes from microbes used for fading jeans were discovered in Lake Baringo, Rift valley and they are estimated to be worth USD600 million however the community is yet to reap any benefits.

The Bark Prunus Africanas harvested from Mt. Kenya has been used to manufacture drugs for treatment of prostrate and gland cancer yet there have been no reports of the community benefiting economically from the exportation of this plant. 

This is the story of exploitation in most parts of the country where medicinal plants grow according to the report.

The  report notes that most countries are raking in billion of dollars through the herbal industry. For example Western Europe made profits worth 375 billion in 2003 and 2004. China had sales totaling to 1050 billion in 2005 while Brazil in 2007 made 12 trillion from the herbal industry.  

As such the 'Traditional herbal medicine and medicinal plants Bill 2008' will help in the documentation of traditional medicinal plants as most will be subjected to scientific research and analysis ensuring that drugs are administered in the right dosage and high quality standards are maintained to minimize health risks to the public, says Dr.Matu.

However the current parliament has over 49 pieces of legislation to pass as such the fate of the bill hangs in the balance. (Published in Nov, 2010)

When fame does not mean Glory- A tale of TB and two men

By Martha Nyambura

In his Iruru village in Kapsabet town, Daniel Ngetich’s name rests easy on the lips of villagers, like those of athletics champions Bernard Lagat, Robert Cheruiyot, Wilfred Bungei and Pamela Jelimo.

They are all the sons and daughters of the village but for this 38 year old farmer, it is neither his prowess on the athletic tracks nor his ability in farming that has brought him to the limelight amongst his kinsmen.

Miles away in Kangaita village in Kerugoya County is Simon Maregwa, whom Mr. Ngetich shares the fame that they were propelled into by the most unlikely of circumstance: defaulting on their TB medication, an act that would take them behind bars.

The 54 year old Mr Maregwa, is a father of two who earns his living by weaving baskets. His is an ordinary life. His Kerugoya district hardly makes headlines; it is not endowed with athletic prowess neither are songs of their farming skills  making it to the charts but recent events surrounding him has made Kenyans take notice of his Kangaita village tucked in the slopes of Mount Kenya.

It all began in August last year. Usually, this is the time when the view of the Rift Valley escarpment comes to life; the maize crops trades in their green colour for a brownish one in anticipation of harvest. Farmers are abuzz preparing their barns to carry the bumper harvest.

On one August morning, Mr Ngetich was in his farm getting his crops ready for harvest when policemen came calling. In full view of his kith and kin, he was arrested ostensibly for failing to finish his dose of TB medicines.

“These drugs are not like the malaria ones, this one make you drunk than the normal beer,” he recalls of the medication.

In the case of Mr Maregwa, he was arrested at the Kerugoya District Hospital where he had been called in for routine checkup. When the nurse noticed that his TB medications were not all utilized, policemen were called in.

“If you have a stomach problem or headache,” argues Mr Maregwa, “and you take medications for a few days and feel better, you stop taking the drugs. I thought this is the case with the TB medicines, I took them for a while and felt better.”

This marked the beginning of the two men’s time in the limelight that would see them hog newspaper space and television airtime. Overnight, they became the talk of the country.

They were later handed an eight months jail sentence when the case was concluded. However, they did not serve the full sentence as intervention from human rights advocate earned them freedom midway.

It is their plight that recently brought together health rights’ advocates at a Nairobi hotel to campaign for a humane approach to the treatment of TB patients.

Kenya’s TB burden is the fifth highest in Africa and Kenya is ranked 13 on the list of 22 countries that bear the highest burden of the disease in the world, according to the Global TB Report of 2009 by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Figures from WHO indicate that the country records 132,000 new TB cases every year. It has over 500 confirmed cases of multi drug resistant TB (MDR-TB) , according to the ministry of public health’s division of leprosy, TB and lung disease but WHO estimates this number to be in its thousands.

Dr. James Gachengo, coordinator of DR-TB at the division of leprosy, TB and lung disease says that defaulting on TB medication threaten gains the country has made in combating the disease.

He notes that those who default on treatment are likely to develop resistance. This means that they are likely to infect others with MDR-TB, which costs over 1.5 million shillings to treat a single case.

However, the activists are against locking up defaulters. Imprisonment has contributed to stigma against many people who may have TB, fearing to come out in the open, says Anne Rono of National Empowerment Network of People living with HIV in Kenya- NEPHAK in Nandi County.

Ms Rono says there is need to come up with creative ways of ensuring that TB patients have the right support from their families and the community to ensure they finish the dose.

In fact, there is concern that this could lead to spread of the disease in prison when the defaulters are incarcerated.

Kenya’s prison capacity stands at 22, 000 and currently there are over 49,000 prisoners, which means that the prison setting may in the long run contribute to the spread of TB since most prison cells do not have isolation wards.

Poor information on TB management and stigma; with TB linked to HIV infection lead many to shy away from accessing treatment, says Nelson Otuoma of NEPHAK.

The TB medications require that many patients have balanced meals while taking the drugs but poverty often makes this difficult, adds Mr Otuoma.

There are examples within Africa, where human rights based approach to treatment is being used. South Africa is amongst them. It has developed policy guidelines on the treatment of TB, the decentralized policy for MDR-TB treatment and care that uses, says Agneeszka Wlodarski an attorney at section 27- a provision in South Africa’s constitution that advocates for the right to access health.

 The policy is based on the successful pilot project that incorporated a decentralized treatment that involved the community in treating MDR-TB, which saw more patients getting treatment and adherence to medicines was high.

“TB patients should not be punished for having the disease but we need to examine the reason behind the defaulting to try and stop infection, prison cells are ill- equipped to guarantee quality of care and adherence,” notes Ms. Wlodarski.

The TB advocates are calling on a more pragmatic approach to effectively deal with TB at community level, that involves community sensitization, investments in education and information to help patients choose to complete treatment themselves and  develop health systems that respond to patient’s needs.

The Kenyan government is currently conducting training programs in 12 regions in a move to train 25 health care workers after realizing that most lack information on the management of MDR-TB, says Dr. Gachengo.

The training is meant to form clinical teams in the health centers to deal with the management of MDR-TB as per new requirements on TB care.

The teams will work on bringing down defaulting cases, through enhancing follow ups and managing side effects resulting from the TB medications.

The clinical teams will also have social workers who will carry out follow up and health education to ensure that even before patients are put on treatment they are advised on what to expect while on  TB treatment.

 (This article was first Published in the MESHA website in Sept 2011)

East African researchers collaborate to fight maize disease

May 7, 2013 | Filed under: Food & Agric,Lead Stories,Regional | Posted by: Administrator

By Martha Wairimu Nyambura

Nairobi, Kenya – Sixty four – year- old Wambui Muhiu, meticulously moves the jembe (hoe) back and forth hitting hard against the black cotton soil in her small acre of land in rural Kenya,Muranga County. Her efforts reveal a cluster of worms to which the chickens watching nearby greedily devour. 

The long rains of March-May have started albeit in torrents. Besides her is a two kilogramme bag full of maize seeds for planting.

Continnue reading http://www.africasti.com/lead-stories/east-african-researchers-collaborate-to-fight-maize-disease

Kenyans embrace clinical trials

By Martha Wairimu Nyambura

AfricaSTI.com, Nairobi

October 2, 2011 | Filed under: Feature | Posted by: AfricaSTI

Kenyans have overcome the stigma that hitherto prevented them from participating in clinical research trials as they now make themselves readily available.

Omu Anzala of the Kenya Aids Vaccine Initiative (KAVI) said one of KAVI’s trial sites has managed to recruit 40 volunteers to participate in an ongoing AIDS vaccine trial within three months, beating the set deadline of six months.

He said it took more than one year to enroll 18 volunteers needed for the first clinical trial in the country in 2000.

http://www.africasti.com/feature/kenyans-embrace-clinical-trials

Kenya: Shortage of Cornea for Transplant

http://www.wfsj.org/files/file/resources/documents/ScienceAfrica/sia20.pdf

Kenya: Shortage of Cornea for Transplant
By Wairimu Nyambura
ScienceAfrica Correspodent

Jovial and full of life,14 year old Maureen Wanjiru leans on her mother and playfully at the lobby of Dr Jyotee Trivedy, senior ophthalmologist and head of medical services at the Lions SightFirst Eye Hospital
in Nairobi, Kenya. Her right eye tightly shut, she brushes off the specks of tears pushing against her closed eye with the back of her hand. Two weeks earlier, she received her first corneal transplant. . read .more http://www.wfsj.org/files/file/resources/documents/ScienceAfrica/sia20.pdf

Organic Agriculture could help Africa fight poverty

http://www.ipsnews.net/2012/05/organic-agriculture-could-help-africa-fight-poverty/

Organic Agriculture could help Africa fight poverty

By IPS CorrespondentsReprint |       |  Print | Send by email

May 24 2012 (IPS) - Experts say mainstreaming organic farming in African could help feed the hungry on the continent, reduce poverty and mitigate the effects of climate change.

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http://www.ipsnews.net/2012/04/women-process-food-to-fight-climate-change/

Women process food to fight climate change

By IPS CorrespondentsReprint |       |  Print | Send by email

Apr 26 2012 (IPS) - It is estimated that African farmers who sell their surplus harvest receive only 10 to 20 percent of the price of their produce due to post harvest losses brought about by extreme climatic conditions and the lack of access to appropriate technologies. But, says Martha Nyambura, women in the Kilifi county of Kenya, are now looking at new methods to help them combat harsh conditions.