Kisumu, In a recent medical camp held in the Manyatta slums of Kisumu County, three children under ten years old have been identified as needing specialized medical attention due to heart complications. These children, among a thousand residents who received free health services, were found to each have a cardiac defect commonly referred to as a “hole in the heart.”
According to Kenya News Agency, Chairman of the German NGO Armut und Gesundheit, which organized the medical camp in collaboration with Uhuru Community Development Program (UCDP), the reality that Kenya’s poor are still required to pay for essential health services is a critical concern. Prof. Trabert, comparing the situation to Germany’s healthcare system which offers such services free of charge, called on Kenyan health sector stakeholders to consolidate efforts to support the economically disadvantaged.
UCDP Executive Director Davies Okombo highlighted that Kenya is yet to fulfill Sustainable Development Goal 3, aimed at inclusive development and access to quality health care. He advocated for increased government funding for health to achieve Universal Health Care across Kenya’s 47 counties, suggesting that this could help mitigate the steep costs of medical care through the social protection program.
Okombo criticized private hospitals for their prohibitive costs and the practice of detaining patients who cannot pay, urging these institutions to aid government initiatives to provide quality health services to the public. Prof. Trabert, noted for his humanitarian efforts towards rescuing illegal immigrants at sea, emphasized that every life matters, including those in Manyatta slums. The professor, who secured the runner-up position in the last German presidential elections, remains a vocal critic of policies that hinder the delivery of health services, despite supporting the current president.
The medic reflected on historical ties, acknowledging that Europe’s wealth partly came at the expense of African resources and emphasized the importance of rectifying past injustices through partnership in various sectors. The NGO, operating in Africa, Asia, and Europe, is dedicated to combating poverty and improving health services. Prof. Trabert expressed the moral obligation to assist Africa, given the continent’s poverty exacerbated by European exploitation, calling for a reparation of sorts.
Furthermore, Prof. Trabert advocated for equitable trade agreements and highlighted a shift in Europe’s stance, from previously halting development funding in Africa to taking steps to ameliorate this neglect. The NGO’s reach extends to aiding Persons Living with Disabilities in conflict and poverty-stricken regions across the globe, emphasizing the provision of basic necessities.