MILLENIUM DEVELOPMENTAL GOALS IN KENYA

MILLENIUM DEVELOPMENTAL GOALS IN KENYA

Question 1

The UN nations developed the Millennium Developmental Goals to eradicate poverty, preventing diseases, reduce neonatal and maternal mortality, and promote gender equality and equity by 2015 (MDG Gap Task Force, 2011). I will discuss improving maternal health, which is MDG5. Maternal health indicators in Kenya include maternal mortality ratio and antenatal care coverage. Tremendous effort has been made over the past decade to promote optimum maternal and neonatal health. The country has established several facilities that deal with women’s reproductive health issues. Services offered in the hospitals and the community include antenatal and post-natal services, family planning, health education, PMTCT and ARV therapy, and counseling and testing services.

The antenatal coverage is reported to have increased and is attributed to the elimination of in 2013 through the Linda mama initiative. This has lowered pregnancy-related deaths resulting from the use of unskilled birth attendants. Since 2013, maternal and neonatal mortality rates have reduced due to increased use of health facility services, although they still encounter several challenges. Maternal mortality rates lowered from 741 in 2015 to 361 in 2017 per 100000 deliveries, and this demonstrates the progress the country is making towards improving maternal health.

Nurses play an essential role in the improvement of maternal health as an educator, preventer of diseases, and advocator to the mothers. They educate the mothers regarding the causes of conditions, the available services offered, and the importance of attending the antenatal clinic as soon as possible (Muturi et al. 2013). The nurse also offered family planning services and conducted most of the procedures in health care facilities. Nurses also provide psychological support to women and their families as they undergo difficulties.

References

MDG Gap Task Force. (2011). Millennium Development, Goal 8. United Nations Publications.

Muturi, D., Sager, J., Omondi, M. P., Ombui, K., & Mungatu, J. (2013). Factors affecting effective strategy implementation for the attainment of Millennium Development Goal 5 by international reproductive health non-governmental organizations in Kenya. The TQM Journal.

Question 2

According to WHO, the current average life expectancy in Kenya is 66.7 but higher in women (68.2) than men (64.7, and it is attributed to the improved medical services and expressive nature of women. Maternal and neonatal mortality rates have reduced due to an increased number of women delivering in the hospital as a result of free maternity services and mother-child services.

The cause-specific mortality is deaths resulting from a specific cause. The diseases prevalent are diarrheal conditions, hypertension, stroke, cancer, and HIV/AIDS (Mannah, Warren, Kuria & Adegoke, 2017). According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), in 2018, the leading causes of death are pneumonia, malaria, cancer, HIV/AIDS, anemia, and heart diseases.  Efforts are being directed to eliminate them by developing programs aimed at finding the causal factors of these diseases to implement effective initiatives.

Nursing services that I would offer would focus on cause-specific morbidity cases. This is because most of the causal factors are preventable and requires effort from both the individual and the health care provider. It is also possible to use the community available resources to eradicate the disease and implementing them through community involvement initiatives. Deaths resulting from hypertension and diabetes can be easily manageable by focusing on modifiable factors. Therefore, managing prevalent diseases is vital in increasing life expectancy and decreasing morbidity and mortality rates.

The services that I can offer include screening services, HIV testing, and counseling, health education on hygiene and sanitation practices, providing essential drugs, and ensuring proper disposal measures are adhered to. In conclusion, the government should collaborate with the NGOs to ensure that the quality services are provided and directed towards the target population.

References

KNBS, M. I., NASCOP, N., & KEMRI, N. (2010). Kenya demographic and health survey 2018. Calverton, Maryland: Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) and ICF Macro.

Mannah, M. T., Warren, C., Kuria, S., & Adegoke, A. A. (2017). Opportunities and challenges in implementing community-based skilled birth attendance strategy in Kenya. BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 14(1), 279.

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