By Shadrack Nyakoe
The Kenya Legal and Ethical Issues Network (KELIN) and the Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA-Kenya) have launched a bold campaign urging the Ministry of Health to adopt a rights-based approach to healthcare.
This initiative aims to transform healthcare from being viewed as a government-provided service to being recognized as a fundamental human right, ensuring equitable and inclusive access for all Kenyans.
The campaign is rooted in years of advocacy and research highlighting gaps in healthcare delivery, particularly for marginalized populations. Despite Kenya’s Constitution guaranteeing the right to the highest attainable standard of health, KELIN observed stark disparities in access to healthcare.
Rural areas suffer from inadequate medical facilities, and vulnerable groups such as women, people living with HIV, the elderly, and persons with disabilities often face systemic discrimination in healthcare access.
FIDA-Kenya, known for championing women’s rights, brought attention to the specific challenges women face in accessing sexual and reproductive health services.
Research conducted by both organizations revealed distressing findings, including women in remote areas relying on unsafe home deliveries due to the absence of accessible maternity care.
Armed with data, KELIN and FIDA-Kenya engaged stakeholders from government, civil society, and local communities to advocate for a health system grounded in human rights principles. They emphasized the need for healthcare policies that prioritize availability, accessibility, acceptability, and quality of services.
The rights-based approach, they argued, would ensure non-discrimination, accountability, and community participation in health decision-making processes.
Key recommendations included increased investment in public healthcare infrastructure, particularly in underserved regions, and addressing social determinants of health such as poverty and gender inequality.
The organizations highlighted the importance of training healthcare workers to provide non-discriminatory care and engaging communities in shaping health policies.
The Ministry of Health, initially cautious, responded to the mounting pressure by creating a task force to explore the integration of a rights-based approach into health sector reforms.
Pilot programs were announced for several counties, with plans for training healthcare workers and prioritizing budget allocations for marginalized groups.
While these steps represent initial progress, KELIN and FIDA-Kenya remain committed to ensuring that the reforms are implemented effectively.
Through continued advocacy and collaboration, they aim to establish a healthcare system that upholds dignity, equality, and the fundamental right to health for all Kenyans.
This campaign marks a turning point in Kenya’s healthcare landscape, signaling a shift towards a more inclusive and people-centered approach to health services.
For KELIN, FIDA-Kenya, and the communities they serve, this is the beginning of a journey towards realizing health as a right for everyone, regardless of their circumstances.
