… Dr Wanyama noted that while the World Health Organisation recommends ultrasound examinations during the first, second and third trimesters of pregnancy, many women in underserved regions still lack access to the service due to shortages of trained personnel and equipment. …
… Between 2014 and 2016, the epidemic spread across Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, infecting more than 28,600 people and claiming more than 11,300 lives, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).For frontline health workers like Komen, those figures represented far more …
… Political and communications consultant Odhiambo Otieno: Kenya's doctor-to-patient ratio remains far below the World Health Organisation recommendation of one doctor for every 1,000 people, with the country currently averaging about one doctor for every 17,000 people. …
… According to the World Health Organisation, one in every 10 medical products in low- and middle-income countries is either substandard or falsified, posing a major threat to public health and undermining confidence in healthcare systems. …
… According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), by May 27, 2026, almost four weeks after the initial reports, the total infections were only 13, and three had lost their lives. …
… An alternative strategy is therefore urgently required.There is still no licensed vaccine, but the World Health Organisation and other global partners have realised the urgent need for vaccine development. …
… Now I can walk or take a short motorcycle ride to the facility,” said Khasaya.Globally, more than 700 women die every day from preventable pregnancy and childbirth-related complications, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). …
… Globally, the World Health Organisation estimates that one in every eight people was living with obesity in 2022, underlining the scale of a problem that health experts increasingly describe as a major public health challenge.Yet obesity remains one of the most misunderstood heal …
… Maximum intake guideline values set by the World Health Organisation (WHO) exist for one cyanobacterial toxin, microcystin-LR, with stricter thresholds for, e.g. …
… The World Health Organisation estimates that at least 2.2 billion people globally live with vision impairment or blindness, with more than one billion cases either preventable or still unaddressed. …
Stakeholders from government, private sector and civil society have supported the Tobacco Control (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which seeks to tighten regulations on tobacco and nicotine products including vapes and pouches. The National Cancer Institute has recommended that at least 30 per cent of tobacco and nicotine-related revenues be earmarked for cancer prevention and control.
Stakeholders from government, private sector and civil society have supported the Tobacco Control (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which seeks to tighten regulations on tobacco and nicotine products including vapes and pouches. The National Cancer Institute has recommended that at least 30 per cent of tobacco and nicotine-related revenues be earmarked for cancer prevention and control.
Children under five accounted for nearly one in three confirmed community deaths in the Democratic Republic of Congo's Bundibugyo virus outbreak during the most recent 21-day period, according to World Health Organisation data. WHO says the pattern warrants closer examination of how quickly young children are recognised as sick, referred and brought to appropriate care.
At the United Nations General Assembly, Tanzania and Rwanda have been commended for their efforts to combat maternal mortality. The article frames this praise through the personal story of a Kenyan man whose wife suffered life-threatening bleeding complications after childbirth.
September is suicide prevention month. According to the World Health Organisation, one person dies by suicide every 40 seconds; in Kenya, about four people die by suicide daily. High suicide rates reflect poor mental health, and while a January 2025 High Court ruling decriminalised attempted suicide, the government has been slow to implement systems to prevent suicide.
African Union member states accounted for nearly 178,600 maternal deaths and an estimated 1.18 million newborn deaths in 2023, representing 69 per cent and 51 per cent of global totals respectively. At UNGA 81, Africa is advancing a "Three Zeros" agenda—zero home deliveries, zero preventable maternal and newborn deaths, and zero unvaccinated children—to accelerate progress toward 2030 targets.
The Democratic Republic of Congo's worst Ebola outbreak in history, declared in mid-May, is spreading to new parts of the country rather than winding down, according to Doctors Without Borders. As of the report date, the virus has killed more than 3,600 people out of 7,200 recorded infections.
Experts recommend couples undergo genotype testing before marriage to understand the risk of passing inherited blood disorders, particularly sickle cell disease, to their children. Knowing one's genotype allows couples to make informed decisions about their future and understand the risks of inherited conditions.
Amsons Group has begun construction of a Sh4.5 billion Level Four mother-and-child hospital in Bomet County, the first of ten healthcare facilities the group plans to build across Kenya within two years.
A 23-year-old man from South Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo traveled across borders through Rwanda and Uganda, carrying Bundibugyo Ebola into Sud-Ubangi province, where 38 contacts were traced. Uganda declared its own Bundibugyo outbreak over on July 28 after recording 20 confirmed cases and two deaths, following 42 consecutive days without new cases.
A young man's death in Naivasha following a drinking competition has prompted calls for investigation into the safety of bottled spirits sold in Kenya, with Kenyans reporting unusual hangovers, stomach pain, vomiting and confusion after consuming alcohol they suspect is counterfeit or adulterated.
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights has called for urgent action on Kenya's suicide crisis, noting that the Ministry of Health estimates four people die by suicide daily, but cautioning that the true scale is unknown due to the absence of a national suicide registry and persistent stigma.
Kenya's Ministry of Health has activated its El Niño preparedness plan in 18 high-risk counties ahead of heavy rains expected during October-December, warning of increased flooding, displacement, and waterborne and vector-borne disease outbreaks. The ministry is seeking support from development and health partners for medical structures, emergency services, health campaigns, water and sanitation interventions, and medical supplies.
President William Ruto has unveiled a partnership with Italy and GKSD Group to construct 13 Level Five county referral hospitals and two Level Six national teaching and referral hospitals across 15 counties, aimed at expanding specialized healthcare and addressing hospital bed shortages.
Kenya has signed a partnership with Italian firm GKSD Group to develop 15 new hospitals across the country, comprising 13 Level 5 county referral hospitals and two Level 6 national teaching and referral hospitals. The agreement, signed at State House Nairobi and witnessed by President Ruto, is part of the Government of Italy's Mattei Plan for Africa partnership framework.
Kenya has set 2028 as the target to integrate evidence-based traditional medicine into the mainstream healthcare system, with Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale stating the government will not create a parallel system but bring traditional, complementary, and modern medicine together under one healthcare framework, provided traditional practices meet safety, quality, and effectiveness standards. The integration will be guided by the National Traditional Complementary Intervention Medicine Policy, which the Ministry of Health is finalizing and will present to Cabinet for approval after nationwide public participation.
WHO estimates 359 million people globally lived with an anxiety disorder in 2021, with women more affected than men and symptoms often beginning in childhood or adolescence. A Kenyan study of 7,865 secondary school students found 25.1 per cent had clinically elevated anxiety symptoms, with academic pressure and lower perceived control linked to higher symptoms.
Catastrophic flooding and landslides on the Nepal-Tibet border killed at least 160 people and left hundreds missing. Water and debris crashed downstream on both sides of the border, hitting villages and towns along the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli rivers in Nepal.
The World Health Organisation has warned against changing childhood vaccination schedules without strong scientific evidence, following the United States' announcement of significant changes to its immunisation policy. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the organisation was concerned that the US changes were not aligned with established evidence, noting that delaying vaccines or separating doses could leave children unprotected against preventable diseases.
An Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has infected 155 health workers, 45 of whom have died, while frontline teams monitor 19,630 contacts and manage 751 active cases across 47 health zones. The response is further strained by systemic issues including unpaid wages and poor working conditions for healthcare workers.
Most headaches are harmless and follow common triggers like stress or poor sleep, but some can indicate serious underlying conditions and warrant medical attention. Headache disorders affect an estimated 2.9 billion people globally, with tension-type headache most common and migraine causing the greatest disability, particularly among women.
The Pharmacy and Poisons Board has approved seven semaglutide-based medicines in Kenya, expanding treatment options for type 2 diabetes. Although the products share the same active ingredient, they do not necessarily have the same approved uses, and the regulator has warned the public against using semaglutide medicines without medical supervision, particularly for weight loss.
The High Court has rejected a petition by death row convict James Mwinga Gathuri to cap all jail sentences at 67 years, Kenya's normal life expectancy. Justice Roselyne Aburili ruled that Gathuri, whose sentence was already reduced from death to 40 years by the Supreme Court, cannot seek further redress on the same matter and cannot benefit from a review twice.
Kenya has one doctor for more than 5,000 people, widening a gap with WHO recommendations of one per thousand. An opinion piece argues that neighbourhood pharmacies, already the first point of care for many Kenyans, could help address this shortage by managing common minor ailments with support from qualified pharmacists.
The WHO director general has arrived in the Democratic Republic of Congo for meetings with President Felix Tshisekedi as the Ebola epidemic spreads at an "exceptional" pace. The country's 17th Ebola outbreak, declared in May, has recorded 3,874 confirmed cases and 1,751 deaths, with the Bundibugyo virus variant currently lacking a vaccine or treatment.
Only six out of ten babies born in Kenya are breastfed within the first hour of life despite nearly nine in ten deliveries occurring under skilled health workers, experts warn. Early breastfeeding provides colostrum, a nutrient-rich first milk that protects newborns against life-threatening infections when the risk of death is highest.
The Democratic Republic of Congo's Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak has reached 3,748 confirmed cases with 1,657 deaths and a 44 per cent case fatality rate on its 78th day, now the second-largest Ebola outbreak in history. Health authorities report that transmission continues to outpace response efforts despite improvements in contact tracing.
Research shows that chronological age reveals little about how well the brain ages, with people of the same age maintaining vastly different levels of cognitive function. Brain resilience—the ability to continue functioning well despite age-related changes, illness, or adversity—explains these differences better than age alone, and foundations for brain health are laid across a lifetime through health, education, living conditions, and access to care.
The Democratic Republic of Congo's Ebola outbreak has reached 2,994 confirmed cases with 97 new infections and 62 deaths reported in a single day, mostly in Ituri Province. The virus is spreading northward toward South Sudan, raising concerns about potential spread closer to Kenya through cross-border movement.
Self-care—the ability of individuals and communities to maintain health, prevent disease, and manage illness—should be recognized as the "first mile of healthcare" in Kenya's universal health coverage agenda, not as a substitute for professional care but as an integrated part of a more preventive and accessible health system.
President William Ruto announced that the Government will begin paying medical insurance for all 107,000 Community Health Promoters under the Social Health Authority this month. The National Government will provide 390 million shillings, with counties expected to contribute a similar amount.