Paediatric Nurses Annual Scientific conference seeks to achieve MDGs 4, 5 improvement in Kenya

By Eric AKasa

The Kenya Paediatric Nurses Chapter, with the participation of Procter & Gamble, brought together one of the largest gatherings of paediatric nurses and health care workers from Kenya to deliberate on concrete ways of improving infant health in the country. This will take place at the 11^th Annual Kenya Paediatric Nurses Scientific Conference in Mombasa yesterday and today.

Announcing the conference date in Nairobi, Chair of the Kenya Paediatric Nurses Chapter, Dr. Christabel Wesonga-Omondi said this year’s conference will focus on steps that can be taken to achieve millennium development goals (MDG) 4 and 5, which target the reduction of infant mortality and improving maternal health. Over 100 nurses practicing at paediatric departments of various hospitals will converge for the conference.

“The conference discuss developments in paediatric, including neo-natal care in Kenya and what practices the paediatric nursing community can implement to reduce infant mortality and improve maternal health in the country”, said Dr. Wesonga.

 “Pampers is participating in the conference and is pleased to be a part of it. Providing avenues for holistic baby care is at the apex of what we do. For this reason, we are happy to partner with paediatric nurses that are very instrumental in improving infant healthcare across Kenya.” said Anthony Ng’ang’a Brand Manager Pampers

Pampers has reached out in partnership to medical professional organisations in Kenya in the provision of best baby care in Kenya. The Paediatric Nurses Association is one such partner- which represents paediatric nurses across the country. The association aims to promote excellence in paediatric nursing through high standards of nursing education and research in collaboration with others.  

Pampers has demonstrated a clear commitment to providing all-rounded baby care in Kenya. One of Pampers’ key propositions to the Kenyan mother is the sufficiency of one diaper to keep her baby dry for a whole night. What’s more, Pampers is constantly looking for ways to infuse new innovations into its products so as to ensure that babies are protected in even better ways. With an understanding of the importance of sleep in the physical and cognitive development of babies, Pampers diapers give a baby a whole night of critical undisturbed sleep.

Pampers, in conjunction with the Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation, runs the ‘Pampers Mobile Clinics’ program targeting mothers with babies less than 12 months who have given birth at home. The Pampers Mobile Clinics consist of a van that travels to various locations with a District Health Officer and two nurses. They offer consultations and give free expert and on-the-spot medical advice, allowing mothers to address pressing worries such as feeding habits, breastfeeding, sleep patterns, vaccination and common ailments in various rural and semi-urban communities in the country.

Study Underscores Growing Drug Resistance, Need for New TB Vaccines to Fight the Global Epidemic

By Eric Akasa

Study results documenting the increasing evolution of tuberculosis strains into superbugs that resist most, if not all, of our best medicines highlight a major issue for those of us engaged in the battle against TB, and we still don't understand the full scale of the drug resistance problem.   Without a robust pipeline of new drugs to stay one step ahead, it will be nearly impossible to treat our way out of this epidemic.

Treatment options for patients with extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) are limited, expensive, and toxic. Medications for drug-resistant TB cost as much as 200 times more than those for drug-susceptible TB, can cause more severe side effects including deafness and psychosis, and take 18-24 months or more to complete. In the United States, MDR-TB treatment can cost $250,000 or more per patient, and in most low-middle income countries costs can be catastrophic to both the health system and the impacted family. 

Aeras is working to accelerate the development of new TB vaccines because, without them, we will not be able to adequately and affordably address one of the deadliest epidemics of our time. A vaccine that could prevent disease in high-risk adolescents and adults would be the single most cost effective way to mitigate the global crisis.  Prevention almost always trumps intervention, and in the case where infectious diseases, such as TB, have become increasingly resistant to antibiotics, the urgency around prevention becomes even greater.

The past 10 years have seen tremendous progress in TB vaccine development. There are 12 TB vaccine candidates currently undergoing clinical trials, with results expected early next year from the first proof-of concept efficacy study. Another pivotal proof-of-concept trial is scheduled to begin in early 2013.   

It is a given that vaccine development is a complex process that requires patience and determination, but as history has proven vaccines not only prevent disease and save lives, they pay dividends for generations to come. We remain steadfast to reach our goals, but we will need increased political will and sustained investment to advance the world's most robust pipeline of new TB vaccines since the original BCG vaccine was introduced in 1921.

Innovative boy awarded Jubilee Insurance Samaritan Award

By Eric Akasa

A ten year old boy has been awarded The Jubilee Insurance Samaritan Award (JISA), for his creativity in tackling challenges facing his community.

Baraka Rimba Kahindi won the award for his selflessness and innovativeness in rescuing flood victims in Malindi. During the rainy season in May when most parts of the country were faced with flooding crisis, causing enormous suffering to families, the class three pupil of Kavinyalalo Primary school joined together old wooden doors to make a makeshift raft, and using a stick for an oar, helped evacuate his marooned villagers to safety.

“This is a rare show of innovative thinking that Jubilee is happy to recognize,” said Patrick Tumbo, the Jubilee Insurance Kenya Chief Executive Officer. “At his young age, Baraka challenges all of us to be the problem solvers rather than seat back and wait for solutions. We can borrow a lot from his act.” He adds.

The JISA award recognizes ordinary Kenyans doing extraordinary acts of charity, and selflessly helping to solve challenges facing the community around them. The acts awarded are not usually motivated by monetary reward.

The Galana River running across Malindi County burst its banks in May, sweeping away homes and property and marooning families on roofs and hilltops. And while even adults looked at the rising water levels from afar, frightened, and waited for a helping hand, Baraka worked tirelessly to evacuate the 12 households of the marooned Kaziani village with his makeshift boat. The Kenya Red Cross team of volunteers on the ground acknowledged that his invention helped shorten the time taken in the evacuation because many people could not swim. The low lying areas of Malindi and Magarini are prone to floods.

“I saw the difficult situation, and all I could do was think of ways to help,” says Baraka. “I had to learn to swim because floods have been a problem here for a very long time.” Baraka adds.

Baraka’s Head Master Simeon Nzai says he is a humble and disciplined pupil who demonstrated his real self by his response to the crisis. “Despite his humble background, Baraka is quite persevering even in school. With his creative mind he has potential to excel in future, ”Mr. Nzai says.

“By awarding Baraka we hope to inspire others, especially young people to be actively involved in solving problems facing the society,” says Zipporah Musau one of the JISA judges. “This sense of innovation, selflessness and the rate of spontaneity in which he responded to provide a solution to the problem, stood out among the many nominees we received.”

The JISA panel of judges comprise of six reputable media practitioners who identify and pick deserving winners from across the country.

Kenya should establish an Independent Inquiry into Rogo’s Murder Human Rights Watch Say

By Eric Akasa

The Kenyan government should establish an independent inquiry into the killing of Aboud Rogo, a controversial cleric, on August 27, 2012, and subsequent riots in Mombasa, Human Rights Watch says.
Rogo, who was facing charges of illegal possession of weapons and recruiting for the Somali Islamist group al-Shabaab, was shot to death in his car while he was driving outside Mombasa. Following his burial later in the afternoon of August 27, riots erupted across the Mombasa town center and continued on August 28. Cars were set alight, several churches were vandalized, and at least two people were killed. One was a prison officer working with the police to contain the riots and the other a civilian killed by rioters. Police told reporters that they arrested 22 people in connection with the riots.

“The killing of Aboud Rogo is a serious crime that needs speedy independent and impartial investigation,” says Leslie Lefkow, deputy Africa director at Human Rights Watch. “In the meantime, police should continue to stick within the law in confronting the riots sparked by Rogo’s death.”

Witnesses told Human Rights Watch that an unmarked vehicle overtook the car Rogo was driving with six passengers, including his wife, on Malindi road on August 27 and that two gunmen opened fire at close range. Rogo was shot in the head and died at the scene. His wife was also shot and is in a hospital.

The riots were in the Majengo and Kisauni areas of Mombasa. At least 24 people were admitted to hospitals with injuries related to the unrest, with three people critically injured, media reported. Youths interviewed by Human Rights Watch said they were protesting the suspected involvement of the Kenyan authorities in Rogo’s death.

Rogo’s killing follows the abductions and deaths earlier this year of several other people charged with recruitment and other offenses related to al-Shabaab.

In March, Samir Khan, who was also charged with possession of illegal firearms and recruiting for al-Shabaab, and his friend Mohammed Kassim were pulled from a public bus in Mombasa by men who stopped the bus and identified themselves as police officers, Khan’s lawyer, Mbugua Murethi, told Human Rights Watch. Khan’s body was found, badly mutilated, a few days later in Tsavo national park. Kassim’s whereabouts remain unknown. Kassim had previously been abducted in Nairobi in February, under unclear circumstances, but was released after his captors interrogated him. Police briefed journalists at the time, saying he had been arrested by the Anti -Terror Police Unit, but they later denied arresting him.

Rogo had complained of police threats before his death and requested protection. On July 24, Rogo had reported to the police, the Kenyan National Commission on Human Rights, and the court in which he was being tried for recruiting for al-Shabaab, that unknown assailants had attempted to abduct him and his co-accused Abubakar Shari Ahmed when they arrived in Nairobi for the court hearing. He swore an affidavit that men in civilian clothes who claimed to be police officers tried to force the two men into an unmarked car. He said that he and Ahmed had challenged the men to produce identification and that passers-by helped the two men resist being forced into the car.

Murethi, who is also Rogo’s lawyer, sought an assurance from the prosecution that the attempted abduction would be investigated and that Rogo’s security would be assured. The court ordered the Officer Commanding Station of Kamkunji police station to investigate. Murethi told Human Rights Watch that Rogo frequently expressed concern about being followed by police and spoke of threats from known police agents who he said told him that, “The state will find a way of dealing with you.” Rogo had requested that the case be transferred to Mombasa where he felt safer and where he was also facing other charges for illegal possession of weapons and explosives.

Rogo was on United States and United Nations sanctions lists for alleged support of al-Shabaab. In 2005 he was acquitted on murder charges related to the 2002 attack on a hotel in Mombasa, which killed 12 people.

According to the Mombasa-based human rights group Muslims for Human Rights (MUHURI) four people have disappeared after being arrested by the police during 2012. MUHURI and the Muslim Human Rights Forum (MHRF) have gathered accounts from witnesses who said that the abductors identified themselves as police officers before taking away Ngoy Moise Kayembe and Shani Marove Lydia in February and Musa Osodo and Jacob Musyoka Matheka in Molo in May.

Osodo was facing charges in a Mombasa court for membership of al-Shabaab and was one of six suspects charged with killing a police officer. Two of his co-defendants, Steven Mwandi Osaka and Jeremiah Onyango Okumu, disappeared in June, also after being pulled from a public bus in Mombasa by men in civilian clothes. They have not been seen since.

Police claim to be investigating Khan’s murder and the disappearance of the others.

“The abductions, disappearances, and in some cases murder of people who are thought to be linked to al-Shabaab is incredibly disturbing,” Lefkow points out. “The Kenya police are facing a crisis of confidence in Mombasa. The government needs to act swiftly to investigate and prosecute those responsible for these crimes.”

The killing and the disappearances highlight the need for urgent completion of police reforms, including the setting up of the National Police Service Commission that is responsible for investigating the police, and that was supposed to be operational earlier this year, Human Rights Watch observes.

The riots that began on August 27 continued throughout August 28. Two churches were attacked. One was set on fire and one was looted of electrical equipment. Shops and two cars were set on fire and burning tires placed in the road in several areas of town. Police engaged in running battles with rioters, firing tear gas and rubber bullets. Prison officers were brought in as reinforcements. Twenty-four people were admitted to hospitals by the afternoon of August 28. The prison officer was killed and 12 others injured when youths threw a grenade at a patrol in the Kisauni area of Mombasa.

The deputy provincial police officer, second in command in Coast province, told Human Rights Watch that police were trying to contain the violence with “minimum force” but would not rule out the use of live ammunition. The UN standards on the use of force and firearms by law enforcement officials state that, “In the dispersal of violent assemblies, law enforcement officials may use firearms only when less dangerous means are not practicable and only to the minimum extent necessary.”

“So far the police appear to have exercised admirable restraint in confronting the insecurity in Mombasa,” Lefkow notes. “Now they need to use precision and intelligence to pursue the people who caused the violence, avoiding indiscriminate actions.”

MPs on Tuesday wanted the details of Aboud Rogo's killing revealed to the public and want to know why the police had not apprehended any suspects since the incident occurred in broad daylight.

 The MPs expressed concerns over the killing and the preceding riots put Kenya on the edge being election period. They said the clashes in Mombasa in which a police officer, among a group sent to quell the riots was killed, was a pointer of the state of insecurity in the country.

Ikolomani Dr. Boni Khalwale want the Internal Security minister to tell the Kenyans whether the killing of the cleric was extrajudicial, since before his death, the cleric had complained that his life was in danger.

"The minister should also confirm whether this was indeed an execution by an elite squad probably from the US (United States of America) in its pursuit of terror suspects all over the world,” said Dr Khalwale.

Bharti Airtel, Sproxil to Fight Drug Counterfeiting in Africa

By Eric Akasa

Bharti Airtel, (‘Airtel’) a global telecommunications company with operations in 17 countries across Africa has announced a partnership with Sproxil to combat the counterfeit drug market in Africa.  Sproxil’s Mobile Product Authentication (MPA™) solution allows consumers to verify product genuineness within seconds through a text message.  Airtel will offer this service absolutely free to its users and not charge for any SMS based verification.

Sproxil’s service works by placing a scratch-off label on products, and then when consumers purchase a product, they scratch off the label to reveal a unique, random code. The code is then sent via SMS to a country-specific Toll Free short code, and the consumer receives a reply almost instantly indicating whether the product is genuine or not.

 “Our goal is to bring affordable and easily accessible health services to over 450 million people. The battle against counterfeit drugs is a huge step towards this goal.” Says Andre Beyers, Chief Marketing Officer, Bharti Airtel, Africa, “Whilst this agreement is a step in the right direction, I also believe that collaboration between all the stakeholders in the mobile health ecosystem is key to a successful and sustainable future.” Beyers adds

“Building relationships with individual telecom companies and acquiring the short codes necessary for our MPA solution in each country can take a considerable amount of time – it slows down deployment,” comments Dr. Ashifi Gogo, Sproxil CEO.  “By working with Airtel, we can get short codes in various countries different markets from just one company, streamlining the process and ‘turbo charging’ our expansion throughout the region.  For the consumers it’s a win-win – two advanced technologies working together:  Airtel’s network provides high quality, very affordable telecom service enabling consumers to take advantage of Sproxil’s brand protection solution, at no cost to them.” Gogo adds.       

 Airtel is a leader in mobile communications, providing services in 17 countries across Africa, which includes Burkina Faso, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Madagascar, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.

The partnership is designed to facilitate the deployment of Sproxil’s Mobile Product AuthentificationTM (MPA) solution throughout developing regions of Africa– markets where Airtel is entrenched as a leading telecommunications provider.