WHO boss asks Kenyans to hold peaceful elections

The World Health Organisation Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus has asked Kenyans to maintain peace as they head to the August 9 General Election.

Tedros said Kenya needs to have a peaceful transfer of power to the next government and should be among the countries in Africa that achieve that.

Speaking today during the groundbreaking ceremony of the AMREF International University campus in Ruiru Northlands, the WHO boss said peace is deserved by every country in the continent.

“We do not need violence, transfer of power should be peaceful. I will join our religious leaders to also pray that this election is peaceful,” he said.

Tedros commended the move by AMREF, saying WHO will support them to realise their vision.

“We must take care of our health workers just like they do take care of us, with good pay, good working conditions and good training,” he said.

In his speech, President Uhuru Kenyatta commended the AMREF team saying they had taken big steps to open room for the training of more healthcare, which he said will not only benefit Kenya but the region as well.

“It is critical that we have skilled, well equipped, well paid, adequately supported and well-trained health workers,” he said

He said the challenge that lies ahead for Kenya was to increase resources in training and policy reforms in the health sector to make up for the lost ground as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to Uhuru, Africa’s socioeconomic ground is pegged on the health of the workforce, adding that despite the continent’s population suffering from 25 per cent of diseases, Africa still grapples with healthcare worker shortage, a problem he says has been predicted to get worse.

The health worker’s shortage he said had constrained the continent’s response to pandemics and restricted the ability to achieve health equity and meet their population’s health needs.

He called for the partnership between the government and like-minded partners, the private sector faith-based and non-government organizations to improve healthcare in the country.

“We must all pull together and work with one accord for the good of our people,” he said.

Article first published on https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/national/2001449947/who-boss-asks-kenyans-to-hold-peaceful-elections