Counties allocate lion’s share of budget to health

Kisumu and Homa Bay county governments have allocated a total of Sh3.5 billion to health care this financial year.

Kisumu governor Jack Ranguma said his administration has allocated Sh2.6 billion, which forms a third of the county’s budget, towards the function that has been devolved from the national government.

Homa Bay County, on the other hand, allocated Sh743 million towards the sector. Speaking at an annual scientific conference on health at the Great Lakes University of Kisumu (GLUK), the two governors said they have established plans to handle the health function following the challenges they encountered when the docket was transferred to counties.

Homa Bay governor Cyprian Awiti said the county plans to recruit 150 nurses this financial year to cater for the growing need of health care.
           
VERY IMPORTANT
“We allocated a sizeable amount to health sector because it is a very important aspect of the economy,” said Awiti.
He added, “The challenges we encountered in the last financial year when we began handling the function have taught us enough lessons and now we are fully prepared for the task.”

He said his administration has engaged in empowering the community health workers to take the health services closer to the people.

“We plan to create a good working environment for doctors in order to give them the confidence to work with us,” he said.
Some of the money, he said, would be used to put up more health facilities and for the supply of drugs and medical equipment.

Ranguma on the other hand said his administration plans to put up maternity hospitals besides upgrading the existing sub-county health facilities to address health challenges.

“We have attached at least one community health worker in every hospital. We plan to hire more medical staff,” said Ranguma.

He said the county recently received medical supplies and equipment worth Sh35 million which have boosted the health sector in the county.
“Lack of enough maternity hospitals creates a lot of challenges during delivery because they are overcrowded,” he said.
          
GREENER PASTURE
At the same time, the county boss who is also the chairman of council of governors’ committee of health, refuted claims that some doctors had moved from counties to seek greener pastures in private hospitals.

He said the medical personnel are comfortable with working in the counties, adding that the governors had employed strategies to ensure that the health sector is not paralysed.

“The reports I have indicate only seven doctors quit service in Bomet County due to personal reasons but 11 others quickly came in to replace them,” he stated.

On Monday, Ranguma presided over the launch of Sh100 million Magnetic Resonance Imaging facility in the region to boost the health sector.

GLUK vice chancellor Prof Dan Kaseje said the event was aimed at helping devolved systems adapt to the new health policy at the county level.

“Our aim is to ensure that counties come to terms with the challenges that may arise following the transfer of the health docket to the devolved systems,”