Catholic Information Service for Africa (Nairobi)
10 July 2009
Nairobi — The Faith-Based Organizations (FBOs) have partnered with the Kenyan government in efforts to provide subsidized health care to citizens.
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed Thursday between the government and FBOs representatives, including the Kenya Episcopal Conference (KEC), Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM), and Christian Health Association of Kenya (CHAK).
John Cardinal Njue, the chairman of KEC, termed the MoU a unique initiative to carry on the healing ministry. "It is our hope that this will be continued to enable proper services to our people as government and FBOs," he said.
Prof Abdulghafur El-Busaidy of SUPKEM said the partnership is a sign the "we are focused to make it easier for our people to access health services".
"With the signing of this MoU, we now have a partnership framework that will enable government subsidize efforts of our partners," said Prof. James Ole Kiyiapi, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry of Medical Services.
The PS praised FBOs for operating health care facilities in remotest areas where public health services are inaccessible or inexistent.
While acknowledging that the government has limited resources, Prof Kiyiapi said that the government is adopting an open door policy approach.
"We can complement each other, rather than compete. Instead of waiting until that time when the government will have enough money to provide health care for all, let us look at how effective can we utilize the available resources," he said.
The agreement was a culmination of efforts between government and the religious organizations to partner in healthcare that were initiated in 2004. According to Dr Robert Ayisi, the National Executive Secretary in the KEC's Catholic Commission for Health of Kenya, the Catholic Church provides 30 per cent of all health care services in Kenya.
There are some 600 FBO dispensaries in the country whose drugs supply is subsidized by the government through its Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (KEMSA). Of these, 250 are Catholic-owned.
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