Governor Ongwae blames medics for poor services

Kisii Governor James Ongwae presents an artifact to chairman of the State Bank of Mauritius Dr Kee Chong Li Kwong Wing after they held talks his office. [Sammy Omingo, Standard]

Kisii Governor James Ongwae has challenged medics in the county to show more commitment to their work.

Speaking at the Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital yesterday, Mr Ongwae said complaints regarding poor service in public hospitals had reached his office.

Ongwae said while medics in other counties had gone on strike to agitate for payment of their salaries, there were no such incidents in Kisii.

He averred that the county allocates 40 per cent of its recurrent budget to the health sector, and this ensures medics are well remunerated to avoid strikes.

“My administration has ensured that health sector employees are paid their salaries on time. We did not have a strike over payment like it happened in other counties recently,” said Ogwae.

“We therefore expect them to perform their duties well.”

He noted that Universal Health Care was one of the key pillars of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Big Four Agendas, and the medics must show commitment to it.

He said his administration is mooting plans to train community health volunteers who will assist medical professionals in public hospitals.

Ogwae said that the county assembly recently passed a bill that supports creation of a budget which will pay monthly National Hospital Insurance Fund subscriptions for needy residents.