Governors dismiss reports depicting sorry state of county health facilities

By ROSELYNE OBALA

Governors have dismissed media reports depicting health facilities devolved to counties as being in a sorry state, contrary to Kenyans expectations.

An investigative piece in Monday and Tuesday's editions of The Standard revealed that since the health function was devolved to counties, patients continue to miss essential of medical services due to lack drugs and personnel.

The Council of Governors (CoG) admitted that the challenges faced in devolving healthcare services has elicited a lot of debate so far from many stakeholders in this sector, however county government have done a lot to improve the health sector despite the hitches.

They noted that the matter has portrayed the process as hopeless with no much success but assured Kenyans of their concerted efforts to ensure it improves.

“We have faced strong opposition from devolved staff but we are on course," stated the CoG chairman Isaac Ruto.

He continued, “So much focus on these negative views has been misguided by less factual arguments on the progress made by county governments in improving healthcare services.”  

Ruto, who is also the Bomet governor affirmed that so far, regardless of the progress county governments have made, it has been tough, no one ever thought it would be done, and it has been done.

“For 50 years, there are counties and areas of this country that have had less than the bear minimum healthcare provision for its people. In few the few months of coming into place of the county government,  we have  had monumental improvement to health services in our counties and evidence is there for all to see," he said.

Mandera governor Ali Roba said his county inherited 52 healthcare centres, of which only own was operational but now they have rehabilitated 18 in just six months and work is ongoing for the rest.

“We have hired 200 health workers in the same period thereby improving healthcare access in the county,” he said.

Kisii Governor James Ongwae said his government has bought the first ever dialysis machine since independence and therefore patients are saved the stress of travelling long distances to seek medical attention.

“We have also acquired new diagnostic machines, physiotherapy machines for their county health centres. They have improved on their Ambulatory Services and are accessible 24 hours,” he said.

According to Nairobi County Executive Committee Member Timothy Kingondu, after devolution, the state of Public Medical Institutions has improved tremendously in the county.

“Pumwani Hospital has three theatres, a high dependent Unit, 150 incubators, three pediatricians and nine obstetric gynecologists,” he said.

He continued, “These efforts have reduced maternal deaths from 10 monthly to zero. There is a major plan to improve Pumwani from the current status to a five storey building with 360 bed capacity.”  

In addition, Nairobi City County has improved six health centres to deliver 24-hour health services.

Dr Kingondu said there are two major master projects for Mutwini Dagoreti to establish a 200 bed capacity.

“The county has procured drugs and heath of about 100 million which has improved the availability of drugs in the facilities,” he added.

In Nakuru County, the County Chief Officer of Health Samuel Mwaura said they have witnessed a lot of improvement since the commencement of devolving Health Services.

“Stillbirths have reduced from 257 in 2012/2013 to 197 this year, neonatal deaths have also gone down from 321 in 2012/2013 to 299 this year,” he said.

He continued, “For the first time, Nakuru General Hospital has procured a state-of-the-art CT scan, which they had been looking forward to owning for a long time.”

Dr Mwaura said the County has also uplifted Bondeni and Gilgil to Women and installed two theaters to cater for surgical services.

“The county has also earmarked Great Rift Valley Hospital to be improved to a 700 bed capacity from17 beds where patients share beds at the maternity wing, and also the county in the process of establishing a trauma centre of worth Sh80 million to deliver services to accident and other trauma victims, “ he said.