The government has once more pledged to fight drug and substance abuse by working together with the assistance of various agencies.
Public Health and Professional Standards Principal Secretary, Mary Muthoni, said on Monday that the Ministry of Health is working closely with NACADA, the police, county governments, as well as religious organizations in a bid to protect youth from the growing threat of addiction.
Speaking during an interview on Radio Citizen’s Jambo Kenya show, Ms. Muthoni clarified that the strategy by the government is to prevent, rehabilitate, and sensitize the community.
“We are saving our youth and must shield them from dangers of drug and substance abuse,” she said, adding that community support remains central to the success of the same.
The PS also discussed the role of the new Social Health Authority (SHA) in delivering Universal Health Coverage (UHC). She assured Kenyans that the system is not meant to make healthcare expensive and break families.
“To win public trust, accountability, transparency, and equity have been embedded in the SHA systems,” she explained.
On primary care, Ms. Muthoni emphasized the work of the Community Health Program, whose more than 100,000 Community Health Promoters have already been rolled out across the country.
The field workers move door to door providing health education, preventive care, and referring patients to healthcare facilities.
She also added that the Ministry, in collaboration with counties and other partners, has enhanced disease surveillance and rapid response to outbreaks.
Ms. Muthoni urged Kenyans to exercise vigilance by reporting the suspected cases in good time and observing preventive health measures to safeguard the communities
