My dad read a book to treat our ailments – MCA Alai on his upbringing
Kileleshwa MCA Robert Alai has revealed a time in his life when his father doubled up as the family doctor.
Alai’s father, a teacher, had 25 children because he was a polygamist.
“I come from a family of 25 because my father was polygamous, and because he was a teacher, we couldn’t afford health care for the entire family back then.”
According to Alai, his father had to be the family doctor, and to do that, he read the book ‘Where There Is No Doctor’ and treated them for all the illnesses they suffered from.
“We survived on my father reading the book and treating us himself. That is the reason I am so passionate about health matters,” Alai said.
Also read: Kenyan media celebrities and the ‘menial jobs’ they did before fame
He spoke on Thursday, January 5, 2023, during the health task force handing-over ceremony at City Hall.
The book, ‘Where There Is No Doctor’, is a classic title for health workers, clinicians, health educators, midwives, community leaders, and others involved in primary health care delivery and health promotion worldwide.
The World Health Organization considers it the most frequently used healthcare manual.
The book equips people with the tools they need to protect and care for their health, families, and communities. It also helps people figure out when they need to see a doctor.
The first term Nairobi Member of the County Assembly further asked Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja to ensure that every ward within Nairobi has a health facility run by the county government.
Also read: Ex-child star Malik Lemmy a.k.a Govi on fame, Machachari and comeback in crime thriller
Alai also asked Sakaja to ensure that the county has an integrated National Health Insurance fund to take care of medical bills when a family member dies.
“No family in Nairobi should have to go broke trying to get the body of a loved one back from one of the city’s facilities. If we do those two things for the Nairobians and ensure everybody can get proper health services, we will have done our part to make Nairobi a better place.” He said.
Alai also sees a county with specialized health facilities to help with the problem of all the health facilities needing to be more open.
“Every health facility is doing what the other is doing. Let us have some specialized health facilities in the county, so that we do not have people overcrowding in all the hospitals,” he added.
Also read: Watch: Viral TikTok dancing nurse getting used to instant fame – Exclusive