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NAIROBI: The Ministry of Health has dismissed claims by the Council of Governors that counties are yet to receive the Sh38 billion worth of leased medical equipment.
This comes after Council of Governors Chairperson Peter Munya criticised the national government for allegedly failing to deliver the equipment almost a year after launching the project.
Munya, who is also the Meru Governor, said only three counties out of the 47 have received the specialised medical equipment while 10 other counties have received only some of the machines.
But a statement from the Ministry of Health released on Sunday indicated that by the end of last month, 28 facilities in counties had been fitted with theatre equipment and are in fact conducting basic and specialised surgeries.
Principal Secretary for Health Dr Nicholas Muraguri said another 53 facilities have been fitted with surgical sets including sterilisation machines to support theatre services.
Dr Muraguri indicated that renal equipment has been fully installed in 14 facilities including Machakos, Thika, Kakamega, Nakuru, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital, Coast Level 5, Others include Kisii, Nyeri. Homa Bay, Embu, Nyamira, Isiolo, Voi and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH).
He added that dialysis services are already being offered in Kakamega, Coast Level 5, Kisii, Nyeri, MTRH, Nakuru, Machakos.
The statement said that Intensive Care Unit equipment have been installed in Machakos and Nakuru counties and are already operational while 52 facilities have had radiology equipment installed such as digital x-rays, ultrasound and mammography machines to screen for cancer.
Dr Muraguri said that the number of hospitals which have been fitted with all machines under the programme are 6 out of 94 including Machakos, Homa Bay, Kilifi, Gucha, Nakuru and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret. He added that staff in the facilities have been trained to operate the equipment.
“Generally, the project is progressing well with timelines being observed. Some Governors may not be in touch with what is happening on the ground. May be their Secretariats are not informing them adequately,” he said.
He added: “The period for fitting out works, delivery, installation and commissioning of the equipment in the hospitals will vary from Lot to Lot, subject to a maximum period of twelve (12) months. Project implementation commenced in May 2015 and will end in June 2016.”
When contacted, Bungoma Governor Ken Lusaka said his county has already received radiology and theatre equipment and expressed satisfaction at the progress.
“We were among the first counties to sign the contracts and so far things are going well. We expect more equipment in the near future,” he said.
The project seeks to equip two (2) hospitals per county with modern medical equipment to provide specialised diagnostic and treatment services in the hospitals including for cancer, and kidney complications.
Under the project, equipment suppliers lease and manage all equipment throughout the entire contract lifetime and charge for the services.
Since the project was launched in May last year, some counties have delayed signing the contracts for the supply of equipment. So far 46 out of the 47 counties have signed.
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