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By Kazungu Chai
Nairobi, Kenya: President Uhuru Kenyatta has assured that provision of quality healthcare services will remain an essential part of his government’s development agenda.
The President emphasised that the government’s plan to provide free healthcare services to all Kenyans was on course.
“We know that if Kenyans are healthy, we will be in a better position to achieve our development goals,” he said.
President Kenyatta was speaking Tuesday when he opened the Gatundu Level IV Hospital’s newly constructed medical wards and launched construction of the hospital’s new service wing.
The Chinese government funded the project.
Mr Kenyatta cited allocation of adequate funds for provision of free maternity services in public health facilities as a step towards ensuring access to healthcare services.
He said the move had significantly reduced maternal and infant mortality resulting from lack of professional attention.
The President said the Jubilee government was boosting budgetary allocations to increase the number of physical facilities at the community level, including provision of mobile clinics.
He disclosed that the government was also improving funding for medical research and pay packages for doctors and health practitioners.
The President affirmed the government’s commitment, under the Abuja Declaration, to progressively work towards allocating a minimum of 15 per cent of the national budget to healthcare in order to intensify health sector interventions.
He said healthcare formed a primary component of the Social Pillar of Kenya Vision 2030.
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