Kenya's Vision 2030 is a development programme that was introduced by the former President Mwai Kibaki.
He had an objective of transforming Kenya into a newly industrialising, middle-income country providing a high quality of life to all its citizens by 2030 in a clean and secure environment.
One of the definitive ways that the government was going to provide a high quality of life to all its citizens is through the provision of universal health care without fear and discrimination.
Access to quality health care is a constitutional right.
Different health facilities equipped with medical equipment have been established to ensure every citizen enjoys high-quality health services.
Sadly, the vulnerable and marginalised groups have, for a long time, been encountering challenges when it comes to accessing their health needs.
Vulnerable populations most often include children, women, displaced people, ethnic minorities, the aged, people with disabilities, or those suffering some disease.
Their experience with health inequities is rooted in a lack of political, social, and economic power.
According to Africa Policy Journal, health inequities occur often on a socioeconomic scale, whereby there is an increased health gap between the poorest and the remainder of the population.
This has prompted the unfair distribution of service delivery that doesn’t meet the specific needs of vulnerable and marginalised groups.
Discrimination has taken the lead placing the no voice group with limited resources at a very high relative risk for morbidity and premature mortality.
Research conducted by International Journal For Equity in Health reveals that while the incidence of catastrophic healthcare expenditure is two per cent among individuals in the richest quintile, those in the poorest quintile have a catastrophic health expenditure incidence of 10 per cent.
A study exploring patients' experiences during delivery after the introduction of free maternity services showed that women reported being neglected during delivery or labour and being physically and verbally abused.
In terms of health insurance coverage, 39 per cent of Kenyans in the richest quintile have health insurance compared to three per cent for those in the poorest quintile.
In pursuit of seeking their standard health rights, the poor are, however, experiencing countless setbacks, especially those residing in far-flung areas.
They have to travel long distances to access their health needs.
Lack of public transport, poor condition of the roads, and high costs are some of the contributing factors limiting access to health facilities.
Informal fees have also exposed the poor to out-of-pocket payments pushing them further down the poverty line.
They fear visiting the facilities since they might incur expenses that are beyond their capacities.
The vulnerable and marginalised groups are subjects of discrimination by health workers.
They are neglected and most health services are being offered to the rich families first.
Continued strikes, lack of sufficient medical equipment, shortage of medical workers, and embezzlement of public resources are among the leading barriers that hamper access to care.
To expand service coverage for this particular group of people and strengthen the effectiveness of financial health reforms, let the government establish more easily-accessible health facilities.
Good governance can also help in the restoration of equity among communities.
The state should also ensure there are enough medical personnel who can execute their duties responsibly.
Health facilities should also have improved medical equipment, and sufficient drugs and issues of occasional strikes must end.
Rongo University
Edited by Kiilu Damaris
