Nairobi health board wants parastatal status

By ALLY JAMAH

A new board to manage 60 health facilities belonging to the City Council of Nairobi has taken office and wants the status of a State Corporation raised to boost health services to millions of city residents.

The new officials of the Nairobi Health Management Board (NHMB), led by Dr Stephen Ochiel, took the baton on Tuesday from the previous boss, Dr Betty Gikonyo, in a ceremony at its offices in Lady Northey in Nairobi.

Dr Gikonyo, who served for two terms since 2004, said the board should be transformed into a State Corporation with direct funding from Treasury, rather than relying on a Sh5 million yearly grant from the Ministry of Local Government, terming the stipend inadequate.

"That move will make the board have more resources at its disposal and also have the autonomy to raise funds from external sources to boost quality of primary health care given to city residents," she said in her outgoing speech.

The Board was set up in 2001 to reform health services provided by City Council clinics, which had largely grounded to a halt, driving up congestion at Kenyatta National Hospital.

The new 12-member board was gazetted last October by Deputy Prime Minister and the Local Government Minister, and will serve for the next three years.

Gikonyo suggested that the Board be registered under the Satate Corporations Act Cap 446 rather than the Local Government Act cap 265.

Strategic plan

According to the Board’s Strategic Plan, the institution requires at least Sh60 million annually to provide adequate primary health services in facilities owned by the city council. It should also receive Sh2 million annually from the city council to purchase drugs.

Dr Ochiel said they will push for the transformation of the body into a corporation to untie their hands in discharging their duties.

Gikonyo also lamented that the Board has two sets of staff, from the City Council and Ministry of Public Health, both with different terms of service, while doing the same job.

"This has sparked conflict among staff and depressed morale. Current disparities in the terms do not augur well for the smooth and efficient provision of health services in Nairobi area," she said.

Councillor Ken Ng’ondi commended the Board, saying since it was introduced in running NCC health facilities, services have improved tremendously and called for more support for the incoming Board. Since inception, it has jumpstarted health services in city council clinics and rehabilitated several other facilities that had closed, including 11 which operate round the clock. They also established a referral system of eight ambulances and 23 facilities linked through a radio call system.