ADVOKS GLOBAL · KENYA
Public Health Act
48. Duties of medical officers of health and district surgeons to report, and powers of magistrates
Edition: 2026-07-10 · In force
48. Duties of medical officers of health and district surgeons to report, and powers of magistrates
(1)It shall be the duty of every medical officer of health in his official capacity and of every Government medical officer and district surgeon who knows or has reason to believe that any person is suffering from any venereal disease in a communicable form and is not under treatment by a medical practitioner or is not attending for medical treatment regularly and as prescribed by such medical practitioner to give notice to such person of the requirements of this Act in regard to attendance for treatment of persons suffering from venereal disease, and, if thereafter such person does not comply with those requirements, to report the matter to the magistrate.(2)Upon receipt of any such report the magistrate shall make such further inquiry, or shall make such order or orders, or shall institute such proceedings, as he may deem necessary for the proper enforcement of the provisions and for the attainment of the objects of this Part.(3)An order under this section may require the person named therein—(a)to furnish a certificate by a medical practitioner as to whether he is or is not suffering from a venereal disease in a communicable form; or(b)to attend at a specified time and place for examination by a medical practitioner named in the order; or(c)to attend regularly for medical treatment at times and at a place specified in such order; or(d)to proceed or be removed to and to remain or be detained under treatment in a special hospital or place of accommodation provided or established under this Part, either for a specified time or until cured or free from the disease in a communicable form.(4)Any person who fails to comply with any order made under this section, or who escapes or attempts to escape from any hospital in which he has been ordered to remain or to be detained, shall be guilty of an offence.