what a day.... busy .... and not just because the health service is in further crisis with nurses now threatening rolling stoppages. In the meantime the economy is on the downturn- though I am not not sure how much that really means for people trying to manage day to day compared to some of the other less developed countries that are dealing with major health problems.
Interesting contrasts between our economy and that of other nations-Our spend on health per capita is so much more than others with greater problems. Though anxious about what I will see - and not sure how a health service doctor and manager from Ireland can help- I 'm looking forward to seeing a little more of the public health approach in Kenya.

IRELAND 2004

Total population: 4,148,000 (in 2004) and rising -2006 census: 4,239,848

GDP per capita (Intl $, 2004): 36,371

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 75.0/81.0

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2002): 68.1/71.5

Child mortality m/f (per 1000): 7/5

Adult mortality m/f (per 1000): 105/60

Total health expenditure per capita (Intl $, 2003): 2,496

Total health expenditure as % of GDP (2003): 7.3


KENYA 2004

Total population: 34,256,000

GDP per capita (Intl $, 2004): 1,586

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 51.0/50.0

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2002): 44.1/44.8

Child mortality m/f (per 1000): 129/110

Adult mortality m/f (per 1000): 477/502

Total health expenditure per capita (Intl $, 2003): 65

Total health expenditure as % of GDP (2003): 4.3