Nairobi County to spend Sh98b on health

Susan Mboya-Kidero at a past event. [PHOTO: [BEVERLYNE MUSILI]

Nairobi; Kenya: The Nairobi County Government has launched a Sh97.8 billion five-year plan to improve health services. Out of this, the Nairobi City County Health Sector Strategic and Investment Plan will cost Sh19.6 billion, with the first year requiring Sh17.9 billion.

The plan sets ambitious targets that include increasing life expectancy for city residents by 10 per cent; reducing the infant mortality rate from 60 to less than 50 (per 1,000 births) and maternal mortality ratio from 488 to less than 300 (per 100,000 births). “This blueprint provides a valuable framework for concrete and measurable action to improve the health of the residents of Nairobi. We laud the county government for its commitment to the plan’s full implementation,” said Dr Susan Mboya-Kidero, wife to Governor Evans Kidero.

Dr Mboya-Kidero spoke at the launch of the blueprint during a free medical camp for city residents at Makadara Sports Grounds last week. The event was attended by the Nairobi County Executive for Health Dr Timothy Kigondu and other senior executives from the department.

The plan targets increased awareness on non-communicable diseases, reduce health risk factors from 30 to 80 per cent and improve nutritional status among children and women.

Other targets include improving access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation from 60 to 85 per cent and increasing proportion of TB patients completing treatment from 85 to 90 per cent.