Kenya's Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards, Mary Muthoni, has been elected as the new Chairperson of the African Permanent and Principal Secretaries for Health. This significant appointment occurred during a high-level meeting in Brazzaville focused on cross-border health security.

• Mary Muthoni, representing Kenya, secured the leadership role.
• The election took place during a consultative meeting on cross-border collaboration for health security.
• Muthoni highlighted the opportunity to deepen collaboration in disease surveillance, emergency response, and strengthening health systems across Africa.

Kenya, in collaboration with the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), has launched the TRACE project to investigate the impact of aflatoxins on child health, exacerbated by climate change, and to develop policy interventions.

• The project aims to establish the impact of aflatoxins on children and inform policy to safeguard their health.
• Key organizations involved include KEMRI, the Kenya Paediatric Research Consortium (KEPRECON), and the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS).
• Aflatoxin exposure, linked to climate change-induced fungal growth on grains like maize, can begin in utero and affect vaccine effectiveness, immunity, and organ development in children.

Healthcare workers in Kenya are experiencing alarmingly high rates of burnout, a condition characterized by profound physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion due to chronic workplace stress, negatively impacting both their quality of life and patient care.

• A 2023 study found 47.1% of nurses in public hospitals experienced burnout.
• Burnout is a global concern, with healthcare workers reporting the highest rates, exacerbated by resource shortages and poor facility management at institutions like public hospitals.
• Leading causes include high workloads, inadequate recognition, limited autonomy, and weak supervisory support, contributing to medical errors and reduced patient satisfaction.

On International Midwives Day, a critical shortage of midwives and nurses in Kenya has been highlighted, with calls for urgent government intervention.

• The Midwives Association of Kenya reports over 50% shortages in many sub-county hospitals.
• This shortfall, exacerbated by emigration, leads to increased maternal mortality and compromised care for women.
• The World Health Organisation recommends 25 nurses/midwives per 10,000 people, a target Kenya is significantly below.