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| Rt. Rev. Paul Kariuki Njiru, Bishop of Embu and Chairman of Catholic Health Commission |
The Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) has strongly opposed the upcoming tetanus vaccination campaign by the Kenyan Government, which is scheduled for 13th– 19th October 2014 terming it a contraceptive drive in disguise and called on Kenyans not to participate in the exercise until the Government came out clearly about the vaccination.
A statement issued to the press by the Catholic Health Commission of Kenya says that Tetanus Toxoid vaccine (TT) laced with Beta human chorionic gonadotropin (b-HCG) sub unit has previously been used in Philippines, Nicaragua and Mexico to vaccinate women against future pregnancy.
Early this year, the Catholic Church had expressed opposition towards the same vaccination campaign which targets women between the age of 14 and 49 years.
Although the Kenya Government through Health Cabinet Secretary Mr. James Macharia has declared that the tetanus vaccination drive will be rolled out as planned, the Catholic Health Commission through the statement says that they are still keen on having the Ministry of Health give Kenyans adequate responses to some key pertinent questions such as: Is there a tetanus crisis in Kenya and if so, why has it not been declared?
Other questions that the commission wants the government to answer include the reason why the campaign target women of 14 – 49years and why it has left out young girls, boys and men even if they are all prone to tetanus. At the same time the commission is seeking clarification as to why tetanus has been prioritize in the midst of so many life threatening diseases in Kenya.
The Catholic Health commission issued the statement on 8th October, 2014 during their meeting with health facility managers from 24 Catholic Dioceses in Kenya at St Patrick’s Pastoral Center, Kabula, in Bungoma Diocese. The meeting was chaired by Rt. Rev. Paul Kariuki Njiru; Bishop of Embu and Chairman, Catholic Health Commission of Kenya – KCCB assisted by Rt. Rev. Joseph Mbatia; Bishop of Nyahururu and Vice Chairman, of the same Commission.
According to the same statement the Catholic Church Church’s health Apostolate in the country cannot be understated. “The Church has an extensive network of health facilities that include 58 hospitals, 83 health centers, 311 dispensaries and 17 medical training institutions.”
Source: Pamela Adinda, AMECEA Online News
