General Healthcare
For every 10,000 people in Kenya, there is an average of 1.4 doctors, 11.4 nurses, 1 pharmacist, and 2 public and environmental health workers for both urban and rural areas. In the United States, the ratio of people to doctors alone is 10,000 to 25.3; nearly twice the combined density of the doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and health workers in Kenya. With inadequate facilities, supplies, and healthcare professionals, the average Kenyan can barely access basic care let alone the displaced survivors of the Mount Elgon conflict. Again, in a region where a quarter of the people make less than a dollar per day, the epidemic here can only spread into a worldwide catastrophe if outside aid is not presented. In a nation of 37 million people, only 4,000 doctors exist. The 4,000 can only do so much. With only 42% of births being overseen by any skilled healthcare personnel, high maternal mortality rates from preventable complications result, further jeopardizing the health of the nation.Simply put, the density of doctors, nurses, healthcare workers is not enough to sustain any gains made in fertility, contraceptive use, and general health. With healthcare workers becoming fatigued and eventually leaving the most adversely affected areas in Mount Elgon such as Cheptais, Tuikut, Kopsiro, and Cheskaki, the need for more professionals and aid in this region is more paramount than ever. This healthcare disaster is not an isolated problem of a nation far away, but a human problem that will affect our future generations down the line. It is consequently our responsibility to help our neighbors in need as we would ourselves.
For every 10,000 people in Kenya, there is an average of 1.4 doctors, 11.4 nurses, 1 pharmacist, and 2 public and environmental health workers for both urban and rural areas. In the United States, the ratio of people to doctors alone is 10,000 to 25.3; nearly twice the combined density of the doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and health workers in Kenya. With inadequate facilities, supplies, and healthcare professionals, the average Kenyan can barely access basic care let alone the displaced survivors of the Mount Elgon conflict. Again, in a region where a quarter of the people make less than a dollar per day, the epidemic here can only spread into a worldwide catastrophe if outside aid is not presented. In a nation of 37 million people, only 4,000 doctors exist. The 4,000 can only do so much. With only 42% of births being overseen by any skilled healthcare personnel, high maternal mortality rates from preventable complications result, further jeopardizing the health of the nation.Simply put, the density of doctors, nurses, healthcare workers is not enough to sustain any gains made in fertility, contraceptive use, and general health. With healthcare workers becoming fatigued and eventually leaving the most adversely affected areas in Mount Elgon such as Cheptais, Tuikut, Kopsiro, and Cheskaki, the need for more professionals and aid in this region is more paramount than ever. This healthcare disaster is not an isolated problem of a nation far away, but a human problem that will affect our future generations down the line. It is consequently our responsibility to help our neighbors in need as we would ourselves.
