Hospitals in Kenya are facing a dual challenge, with ongoing infectious diseases alongside a rapid increase in non-communicable diseases (NCDs), placing additional strain on an already weak healthcare system.
In general hospital wards, children who have been admitted due to malaria or pneumonia are placed next to patients who are recovering from a stroke or dealing with diabetes and cancer—illnesses that were once uncommon but are now becoming more frequent.
Non-communicable diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and mental health conditions, make up almost 40 percent of total deaths in Kenya, as stated in the 2025 Population Situation Analysis Report. However, infectious diseases like malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV continue to be prevalent.
Medical professionals state that the nation is compelled to combat both existing and emerging diseases at the same time, lacking sufficient personnel and resources to manage the situation.
"This report serves as a wake-up call," stated Dr. Mohamed A. Sheikh, director general of the National Council for Population and Development.
"The fatalities occurring today are not unavoidable. They can be avoided." Maternal deaths in Kenya remain significantly above the global benchmark, with a maternal mortality rate of 355 deaths per 100,000 live births, five times the Sustainable Development Goal target of 70. Location often plays a crucial role in determining survival.
Women in regions like Mandera and Wajir experience much greater dangers compared to those in Nairobi, highlighting a lack of skilled medical personnel, extended travel times to healthcare centers, and regular shortages of essential medications.
The main causes, including post-partum bleeding, eclampsia, infection, and difficult labor, are widely recognized and mostly avoidable with prompt medical attention. Beatrice Kimani, 29, from Mandera, experienced severe preeclampsia during her second pregnancy.
The local clinic was missing essential equipment and medications, and there was no ambulance available. When she finally arrived at a district hospital two hours away, she was experiencing severe seizures. She lived; her baby did not.
Health authorities state that these instances are frequent in dry and semi-dry regions, which regularly record elevated maternal death rates along with ongoing deficiencies in trained personnel.
Children dying from treatable illnesses. Under-five mortality is still mainly caused by issues arising from birth, premature births, pneumonia, diarrhea, and malnutrition, all of which can be addressed with low-cost solutions.
The report highlights a decrease in the availability of skilled birth attendance and antenatal care in certain underdeveloped regions. Households frequently encounter significant out-of-pocket expenses for transportation and medical supplies, leading to postponed access to healthcare services.
Although the quantity of healthcare centers has increased during the last ten years, having access on paper does not always lead to proper medical care.
"A structure is not equivalent to care," stated a nurse at a rural clinic who preferred to remain unidentified.
She is the only nurse serving a population of over 10,000 people, providing services such as assisting with childbirth, immunizing children, and handling long-term health conditions.
Kenya has 0.89 physicians for every 10,000 residents, significantly less than what is needed to achieve comprehensive healthcare access. The lack of nursing staff is also critical, especially in areas outside of large cities.
Even when personnel are present, critical medications are often unavailable, prompting patients to purchase medicines on their own. The report highlights delays in purchasing processes and bureaucratic obstacles that result in empty pharmacy shelves despite the availability of funding.
Kenya's population has grown quickly, increasing from 5.4 million in 1948 to 47.6 million in 2019, with estimates suggesting it will go beyond 50 million by 2030. Over 60% of the population is younger than 25, which increases the need for healthcare services related to mothers, children, and teenagers.
Fifteen percent of girls between the ages of 15 and 19 have experienced pregnancy, with notably higher numbers in certain dry regions. Restricted availability of birth control and services that cater to young people leads to increased teenage pregnancy rates, especially in rural communities.
Grace Lekaita, who is 19 years old, became pregnant when she was 16 in Samburu County. The closest medical center was 30 kilometers away, so she gave birth at home.
She has since given birth to a second child and mentions that she has faced challenges in obtaining contraception. Nationally, the fertility rate has dropped from over eight children per woman in the 1980s to approximately 3.4 now. Although the use of modern contraception has risen overall, significant regional differences remain.
Regions where more people use contraception often experience reduced rates of maternal and child deaths compared to places with restricted access.
Demand for reform, Dr. Sheikh stated that Kenya needs to implement integrated service delivery to tackle both infectious diseases and non-communicable diseases (NCDs), increase access to emergency obstetric care in areas with high mortality rates, and enhance supply chains to avoid medication shortages.
He also advocated for better salaries and working environments to keep healthcare professionals in rural regions, increased training initiatives, and wider availability of modern contraceptive methods, especially for teenagers.
As Kenyans are living longer, life expectancy has increased to almost 67 years, according to health officials, who emphasize that the nation needs to quickly focus on prevention and primary care to curb rising expenses and avoid avoidable fatalities.
The opportunity exists," Sheikh stated. "However, without firm measures, numerous Kenyans will keep perishing from ailments we already have the knowledge to address.
Copyright 2026 Tanzania Daily News. All rights reserved. Shared by AllAfrica Global Media (zaianews).
Tagged: Tanzania, Health and Medicine, East Africa
Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc.Syndigate.info).