Health and Wellness | Radio Generation Kenya

KMPDU condemns violent disruption at Naivasha hospital, warns of risks to healthcare delivery

Health and Wellness

KMPDU condemns violent disruption at Naivasha hospital, warns of risks to healthcare delivery

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the union said the incident turned a place of healing into a scene of fear, warning that continued attacks on health facilities threaten the country’s ability to provide lifesaving services during periods of unrest.

David Abonyo 19 May 2026

State orders counties to boost Ebola screening and surveillance at entry points

Health and Wellness

State orders counties to boost Ebola screening and surveillance at entry points

The ministry said no Ebola case has been detected in Kenya so far, but warned that increased regional movement of people and goods raises the risk of cross-border transmission.

David Abonyo 17 May 2026

Kenya secures Sh12.3bn Global Fund grant for HIV, TB and malaria

Health and Wellness

Kenya secures Sh12.3bn Global Fund grant for HIV, TB and malaria

The HIV programme has received the largest allocation of Sh8.83 billion, accounting for more than 70 per cent of the total funding, while malaria has been allocated Sh2.28 billion and tuberculosis Sh1.26 billion.

David Abonyo 17 May 2026

WHO calls for tighter global controls for nicotine pouches

Health and Wellness

WHO calls for tighter global controls for nicotine pouches

In a new report released ahead of World No Tobacco Day on 31 May, WHO said weak or non-existent regulation in more than 160 countries is exposing young users to addiction risks linked to nicotine, which can harm brain development and increase long-term dependence.

David Abonyo 17 May 2026

Kenya heightens Ebola surveillance after deadly outbreak in DR Congo

Health and Wellness

Kenya heightens Ebola surveillance after deadly outbreak in DR Congo

Africa’s top health agency, on May 15, 2026 declared an Ebola outbreak in eastern DR Congo’s Ituri Province, with reports indicating around 246 cases and over 60 deaths, mainly in the gold-mining towns of Mongwalu and Rwampara, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

Maureen Kinyanjui 16 May 2026

SHA faces scrutiny over settlement rate claims as hospitals struggle

Health and Wellness

SHA faces scrutiny over settlement rate claims as hospitals struggle

SHA chief executive Dr Mercy Mwangangi told the committee on Thursday, that the authority had achieved a national claim settlement rate of 79 per cent and had so far disbursed Sh139.5 billion under different health financing programmes.

Maureen Kinyanjui 15 May 2026

Explainer: Why surrogacy is rising as infertility and pregnancy risks increase

Health and Wellness

Explainer: Why surrogacy is rising as infertility and pregnancy risks increase

According to Dr. Omanwa, infertility remains a major challenge across the world, with African countries recording some of the highest rates despite the continent’s high birth rates.

Chrispho Owuor 15 May 2026

HIV, TB, malaria progress too slow to meet 2030 goals, WHO report says

Health and Wellness

HIV, TB, malaria progress too slow to meet 2030 goals, WHO report says

In its World Health Statistics 2026 report, WHO says progress against HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, hepatitis and antimicrobial resistance is not fast enough to meet 2030 targets, and warns funding cuts could worsen outcomes for billions.

David Abonyo 14 May 2026

Duale: Mbagathi police hospital ready but blocked by disputes and debts

Health and Wellness

Duale: Mbagathi police hospital ready but blocked by disputes and debts

CS Duale further told MPs that the contractor who constructed and equipped the hospital has refused to hand it over due to unpaid dues, leaving a completed facility unused.

Maureen Kinyanjui 14 May 2026

WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus

Health and Wellness

WHO warns countries on rising salt-related health risks

In a new report released during Salt Awareness Week 2026, WHO said the average global sodium intake remains more than double the recommended daily limit of 2,000 milligrams — roughly equivalent to one teaspoon of salt. The agency estimates that high sodium consumption contributed to 1.7 million deaths in 2023 alone.

David Abonyo 14 May 2026

Philanthropy drives push for affordable vaccines targeting neglected diseases, says DG Jerome Kim

Health and Wellness

Philanthropy drives push for affordable vaccines targeting neglected diseases, says DG Jerome Kim

The Director General of the International Vaccine Institute, Jerome H. Kim, says funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has been central in advancing work on diseases that traditional drug companies often ignore due to low financial returns.

Chrispho Owuor 13 May 2026

Sh876m smartphone project for health workers under scrutiny as devices fail

Health and Wellness

Sh876m smartphone project for health workers under scrutiny as devices fail

The Ministry of Health rolled out the devices in late 2023, targeting about 100,000 Community Health Promoters to support data entry, patient registration, and reporting through the Electronic Community Health Information System.

Maureen Kinyanjui 13 May 2026

Duale defends 2026/27 budget plan for health sector reform and UHC expansion

Health and Wellness

Duale defends 2026/27 budget plan for health sector reform and UHC expansion

Duale noted that the upcoming budget prioritises reforms aimed at improving service delivery, including expansion of UHC, increased use of digital systems in health services, and strengthening domestic manufacturing of health commodities to reduce dependence on imports.

Chrispho Owuor 12 May 2026

Ruto urges Africa to scale up medicine production amid import dependence warning

Health and Wellness

Ruto urges Africa to scale up medicine production amid import dependence warning

Ruto painted a detailed picture of the imbalance, noting that Africa carries nearly 25 per cent of the global disease burden while accounting for less than 20 per cent of the world’s population.

Chrispho Owuor 12 May 2026

Treasury boosts child immunisation funding to Sh4.6 billion after counties faced vaccine stockouts

Health and Wellness

Treasury boosts child immunisation funding to Sh4.6 billion after counties faced vaccine stockouts

Kenya’s immunisation programme, run through the Kenya Expanded Programme on Immunisation, covers diseases including tuberculosis, polio, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, hepatitis B, pneumonia, rotavirus diarrhoea, measles, rubella, and cervical cancer.

Maureen Kinyanjui 12 May 2026

Kenya still battling trachoma after missing elimination deadline

Health and Wellness

Kenya still battling trachoma after missing elimination deadline

Trachoma is a bacterial eye disease that spreads easily through close personal contact, contaminated items and flies that carry infected discharge. WHO says the disease remains the leading infectious cause of blindness globally.

Maureen Kinyanjui 12 May 2026

SHA rolls out higher cover for cancer, sickle cell and maternity care

Health and Wellness

SHA rolls out higher cover for cancer, sickle cell and maternity care

The changes are based on commitments made during the State of the Nation Address and resolutions from the 12th Summit of the National and County Governments Coordinating Framework.

Maureen Kinyanjui 12 May 2026

Bura Hospital performs first Caesarean Section in 7 years

Health and Wellness

Bura Hospital performs first Caesarean Section in 7 years

The breakthrough came after a joint medical team from the Inter-County Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (IC-MPDSR) programme successfully conducted a life-saving Caesarean section on a mother who had experienced prolonged labour.

Yunis Dekow 11 May 2026

Urban counties dominate SHA enrolment as ASAL regions lag behind

Health and Wellness

Urban counties dominate SHA enrolment as ASAL regions lag behind

Nairobi remains the strongest performer with 1,635,778 members, followed by Kiambu with 832,307 and Nakuru with 730,260. Mombasa stands at 704,375, while Kakamega closes the top five with 700,043 members.

Maureen Kinyanjui 9 May 2026

International Nurses Week: Garissa Woman Rep calls for better welfare for nurses

Health and Wellness

International Nurses Week: Garissa Woman Rep calls for better welfare for nurses

The legislator cited understaffing, poor working conditions, delayed employment, low pay, and the neglect of casual workers as some of the major challenges facing the country’s healthcare sector.

Yunis Dekow 9 May 2026

Private clinics surge as SHA reshapes health sector growth

Health and Wellness

Private clinics surge as SHA reshapes health sector growth

2026 Economic Survey places the number of active health facilities at 16,713 in 2025, compared to 15,974 in the previous year. Registration and oversight of these facilities is handled by the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC).

Maureen Kinyanjui 9 May 2026

Doctors’ body condemns hospital livestreams over privacy breach concerns

Health and Wellness

Doctors’ body condemns hospital livestreams over privacy breach concerns

Kenya Medical Association called on politicians, influencers, and content creators to stop filming in restricted hospital areas such as wards and treatment spaces.

Bradley Bosire 8 May 2026

Ministry of Health issues alert after hantavirus outbreak on cruise ship

Health and Wellness

Ministry of Health issues alert after hantavirus outbreak on cruise ship

The World Health Organization has confirmed eight infections so far, including three deaths, and is coordinating with international partners to monitor the spread.

Bradley Bosire 8 May 2026

Elias Melly appointed CEO of National Cancer Institute of Kenya

Health and Wellness

Elias Melly appointed CEO of National Cancer Institute of Kenya

Melly is expected to oversee key areas including cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and palliative care within the national health system, at a time when Kenya continues to face a growing cancer burden.

Bradley Bosire 8 May 2026

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale with officials from the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and the Social Health Authority (SHA)./HANDOUT

Health and Wellness

Government, KNUT review progress of teachers’ medical cover transition to SHA

The meeting comes amid continued concerns from teachers over access to medical services following the transition to the new health insurance system, with stakeholders pushing for improved efficiency and expanded healthcare access across the country.

Bradley Bosire 7 May 2026

CS Duale clarifies viral reports on blood exports, explains global classification system

Health and Wellness

CS Duale clarifies viral reports on blood exports, explains global classification system

Kenya’s Ministry of Health has dismissed online reports claiming the country exports donated blood, saying the WITS trade category “Human and animal blood; microbial cultures” is a broad classification and does not include transfusion donations. The ministry warned it will act on misinformation.

David Abonyo 7 May 2026

Prison health workers challenge pay gaps, demand equal allowances with other medics

Health and Wellness

Prison health workers challenge pay gaps, demand equal allowances with other medics

The medics said they continue to miss out on extraneous and risk allowances that are routinely paid to health workers in county hospitals and national referral facilities, even though their duties involve direct contact with inmates in restrictive and high-risk environments.

Maureen Kinyanjui 7 May 2026

SHA defends Means Testing Model amid scrutiny over health contributions

Health and Wellness

SHA defends Means Testing Model amid scrutiny over health contributions

The Authority said it welcomes public scrutiny but maintained that the Means Testing Instrument (MTI) is designed to ensure fairness, equity, and sustainability in Kenya’s health financing framework.

Bradley Bosire 6 May 2026

Pharmacy Board sets June 2026 exams, adopts online testing system

Health and Wellness

Pharmacy Board sets June 2026 exams, adopts online testing system

The Board indicated that the assessment will not be paper-based, noting that all candidates will sit for the exams through a digital platform while physically present at approved examination centres.

Chrispho Owuor 6 May 2026

Principal Secretary for Medical Services Ouma Oluga speaking at the national health security convention in Mombasa County on May 5, 2026./HANDOUT

Health and Wellness

Kenya ramps up health security preparedness at Mombasa convention

According to the Principal Secretary for Medical Services Ouma Oluga, recent disease outbreaks and global pandemics had exposed vulnerabilities that require sustained and deliberate action.

Bradley Bosire 5 May 2026