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.

The blue star insider

By MAXWELL KAMAU

 

Recalling any type of information when needed urgently can sometimes be a tough challenge to some of us, our friends or any other person. It depends on some of the physiological limits of how each of our memories works. Some may find it difficult to remember either names of people, places they had earlier visited, instructions given or key concepts presented in class if they were students. Even within seconds, we are likely to disremember everything we have been listening to.

 

We human beings possess large sensory storage in terms of capacity but we are limited in terms of length of storage. One  can hold a large amount of visually unsorted information but due to that shortcoming, it later becomes difficult to recall the information again when you want to apply it somewhere.

 

You now need to be prudent if you want to batten your recalling abilities. The following helpful techniques can be adopted and put into practice:

 

• Write it down

Most people would prefer writing it down while listening, recording or learning some concepts since it is more effective as compared to typing. Since it takes longer to write by hand, you are forced to be more selective with what you write and focus on the key information. This technique is more effective while listening to a speech or concepts being taught in class.

 

• Use Visual cues

With the aid of effective visual tools such as photos of people, places, maps, graphs and charts, it makes it easier to conceptualize information you visually see. They work miraculously!

 

• Mnemonics devices

If you want to remember a series of information, you can also consider using this technique. Mnemonic devices such as rhymes, acronyms and acrostics are helpful. For example if a student wants to easily recall the public relation process, he or she might come up with a creative rhyme. Recalling those five vital steps won’t be a hard thing for the student.

 

• Say it aloud!

The dual action of speaking and hearing ourselves talk helps get words and phrases into long-term memory. Our memory benefits from active involvement.

 

• Make associations

Creating association by drawing on existing knowledge is another helpful way to recall information. You can create mental images and make connections with sounds, smell and tests to help encode memories.

 

If you want to make your recalling experience fantabulous, why don’t you give those five techniques a try? You won’t regret it anymore.

 

Bluestar Insider

 

By MAXWELL KAMAU

 

 

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are infections transmitted by having unprotected sex with an infected partner. STIs are some most common communicable diseases particularly among young people aged 15-24 years.

 

Over the past few fears, people have been fervently coming up with different theories that try to shed some light on matters relating to STIs. But there were some weaknesses as some theories were later discovered to be myths. It has now become onerous for individuals to differentiate between STI facts and myths. This draws the sense that the truth has been contradicted.

 

Here are compilations of 17 myths discovered and the true facts behind them.

It’s easy to tell if someone has an STI

Fact: Not every STI causes clear signs and symptoms. You cannot tell, by looking at someone, whether they have an STI or not. Take HPV, for example, a virus that can cause genital warts and even cervical cancer. Almost all sexually active people will get it at some point in their lives, but not have any symptoms.

Using two condoms is safer and lowers the risk of getting an STI

Fact: Using two condoms at once actually increases the risk of them slipping or breaking, which means less protection. Stick to just one condom. For anal sex, use extra lube.

 

STIs happen to other people, not me. Besides, you can’t get an STI the first time you have sex.

Fact: Anyone engaging in certain sexual activities with someone who has an STI can contract an STI automatically, whether it’s the first time or the hundredth.

 

You can’t get an STI from oral sex

Fact: Yes, you can. Any form of intimacy, whether it’s vaginal, anal, oral or just genital skin-to-skin contact, can give you an STI. So always be safe when you get intimate with someone: use condoms or dental dams.

 

All STIs are easy to treat

Fact: Unfortunately, that’s not the case. While some, like chlamydia, are indeed easily treatable, there is no cure for others, like HIV. But even for the curable STIs, when one delays in seeking treatment and complications set in, the treatment isn’t as simple, and one may have to live with life-long complications such as infertility.

 

You can’t get the same STI more than once

Fact: Yes you can. Unfortunately having a certain STI doesn’t make you immune to it in the future. After the infection has been cured, you are vulnerable to it once again. That is why you should stop having sex with your partner(s) while you are getting treated for an STI. If you infect your partner, then he or she can pass the infection back to you as soon as you are cured.

Some STIs like Genital Herpes infect you once, then can keep reoccurring for a lifetime.

Condoms protect against all STIs

Fact: This might come as a shock, but condoms can’t prevent the transmission of all STIs. Some of them, like HPV and herpes, can be found anywhere around your genitals. And a condom won’t cover these areas, leaving you at risk of infection.

That’s not an excuse to drop the condom though!

 

I’ve only ever had one partner, so I can’t have an STI

Fact: Unfortunately, even if you’ve only had one partner, you can get an STI. If both of you have never had any kind of sexual contact before, the risk is low.

But, some infections (like HPV) are very common that many people get the infection on the first sexual encounter, and can be transmitted through skin contact alone. So there is a risk of infection, even if you’ve only ever had one partner.

 

You can’t have two STIs at once

Fact: Yes, you can. In fact, having an STI might make it even easier to get another one. If you have genital warts or genital herpes, for example, HIV can enter the body more easily. And chlamydia and gonorrhea appear together so often, that if you have one of them, the doctor is bound to test you for the other.

 

If he pulls out before he comes, I can’t get infected

Fact: Pre-cum—drops of fluid that the penis discharges during arousal—can contain HIV, other STIs, or even sperm. Several STIs that cause genital ulcers, such as syphilis or Herpes are not contained in semen, but get transmitted on genital-to-genital contact. It’s best to use a condom as soon as the penis is erect.

 

Lesbians don’t get STIs

Fact: All women who engage in certain sexual activities are at risk for STIs, Some STIs can be transmitted between women by genital-to-genital or oral-to-genital contact that involves the exchange of vaginal fluids or by sharing sex toys, and some can be transmitted by skin-to-skin contact.

 

After sex, you can prevent STIs by douching, washing your genitals, or urinating

Fact: Douching can actually push germs farther into your reproductive tract rather than wash them out, and can also alter your vaginal pH, which is normally protectively low. Even washing your genitals or urinating after sex is ineffective in protecting against developing an STI after exposure.

 

You can’t get an STI from anal sex

Fact: The viruses and bacteria that cause  STIs don’t just go for the genitals. They can be spread through imperceptible cuts in the anus, as well. Some STIs, like genital warts and herpes, can be contracted from skin-to-skin contact alone, if you are exposed to an infected area; and gonorrhea also infects the lining in the mouth and eyes as well!

 

Condoms are only for heterosexual sex

Fact: Condoms can be used for any form of sexual encounter, be it with sex toys, anal or vaginal penetration

 

Someone who has condoms is having sex

Fact: Just because someone has condoms, it doesn’t mean they are having sex. It means they are taking control of their health and the health of others.

 

If I am using contraception, I don’t need to use a condom

Fact: No birth control method offers protection against STIs, except the condom. Other methods of  birth control like pills, rings, IUDs (the coil), and the implant do not protect against STIs, they only protect against pregnancy. So it is safe and smart to use condoms every time you have sex.

 

The real thing is that having protected sex is better and it will set you free at some point. STIs don’t discriminate, anyone can get infected and slowly by slowly, your life will be gobbled.

 

 

The bluestar insider

BY MAXWELL KAMAU

 

Periods are a natural bodily function, and are a sign that a girl or woman can get pregnant and have babies. Your period is the part of your menstrual cycle when  blood from the uterus (womb) passes through the vagina and out of the body. Periods are totally normal and healthy!

 

Periods can make a mess, especially if they start when you were not expecting it! But remember that they are a completely natural process. During their menstrual periods, girls are always advised to consider hygiene all the time—Which is for their own inarguably benefits. Due to fear of speaking out which is triggered by period teasing from male friends, stigma and lack of knowledge, most girls don’t know what to do next at the time of their periods; they end up doing the unexpected.

 

Despite the challenges girls and women face everyday, menstrual hygiene management and practices matters alot. One can manage to stay clean by doing the following:

 

• You should bathe every day as you usually do. If you can, clean your vulva (the outside part of your genitals) twice a day with water. Dry yourself and put a fresh cloth or pad on your underwear. Bathing regularly helps in cleaning your private parts as well as relieving your bad mood.

 

• Change your pad, cloth or tampon as soon as it is getting full. If you are using a pad, it is advisable to change it every six hours while if you are using a tampon, every two hours is recommended. The reason for this is that when menstrual blood is released from the body, various organisms are attracted to the body which multiplies in the warmth of the blood and causes irritation, rashes or urinary tract infections.

 

• Find a good sanitary brand that works for you and stick to it. Those with sensitive skin should avoid sanitary pads with plastic lining, as they can cause rashes, itchiness, and boils when rubbing against the skin.

 

• Do not try to clean the inside of your vagina because it can make infections more likely. The vagina has its own cleaning mechanism that works in a very fine balance of good and bad bacteria. Washing it with soap can kill the good bacteria making way for infections. So, while it is important to wash regularly during this time, all you need to use is some warm water. You can use soap on the external parts but do not use it inside your vagina or vulva.

 

• It’s also advised that you put on comfortable and loose clothes. Avoid tight-fitting ones like jeans. This will ensure free air circulation around the sensitive areas as well as minimize the rate of sweating.

 

With these five educational tips, any girl can stay clean as long as they are followed. Above all, we need to end stigmatization against our girls. Periods are a natural and healthy way of cleaning their wombs. Let’s not freak them out again.

 

The Blue

star Insider

By MAXWELL KAMAU