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Despite an increase in health infrastructure countrywide, the number of Kenyans who died of ill health in 2014 was the highest in the last five years, rising by almost 10 per cent.
The Economic Survey 2015, released yesterday, says county governments are to blame for putting too much emphasis on infrastructure development as opposed to staff welfare and the quality of health care.
The survey, released yesterday, shows that malaria and pneumonia remaining the top killers. The two diseases accounted for over half of the illnesses in the country last year.
Figures differ
The study indicates that cancer killed 14,175 people last year, overtaking HIV and Aids-related ailments, which claimed 12,235 people over the same period.
These figures differ significantly with those being quoted by other Government and quasi-Government bodies, which put annual cancer deaths at 22,000. The National Aids Control Council puts HIV and Aids-related deaths at 57,000.
Though more people died of ill health last year, the study indicates that the number of operational health facilities increased significantly.
“Seventeen out of 47 counties recorded an increase in the number of health institutions, with Kiambu County having the highest number of new facilities at 10,” says the survey.
For the first time ever, the number of registered newborn babies hit almost a million, with the highest registration recorded in Garissa County.
“There were notable disparities in the registration of births in counties, especially in Garissa, which had the highest coverage at almost 100 per cent. Most of this was recorded in the refugee camps,” the survey says.
Nairobi, Mombasa, Kiambu, and Kirinyaga scored highly in registering new births while all arid counties from North Eastern region recorded poor figures. The registration of deaths remained poor, with less than half of the deaths in the country being captured.
The survey shows the number of registered medical personnel grew by eight per cent between 2013 and 2014. And for the first time, the number of medical students went beyond the 10,000 mark, rising by over 18 per cent.
Male enrolment in medical courses, except nursing, remained much higher than female enrolment.
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