Kitale,

Thursday, April 6, 2023,

K.N.A      

By Maurice Aluda

Inadequate health infrastructure has been flagged out as one of the major challenges affecting provision of health services to residents of Trans Nzoia County ahead of the commemoration of World Health Day this Friday.

This is part of the findings contained in a report by a task force that was appointed by Governor George Natembeya.

The County Health Reform Transformation Task Force, whose mandate was to conduct a thorough audit of the operations of county’s health sector, was chaired by Dr. Ferdinand Nang’ole.

Dr. Nang’ole presented the team’s findings at Kitale County Referral Hospital on Wednesday at a public forum graced by Governor Natembeya.

“Infrastructural challenges is one of the weakest links affecting efficient delivery of health services in most public hospitals across the county,” cited Nang’ole.

According to the task force, majority of public health facilities in the county are ill equipped as they lack critical health diagnostic machines and practitioners.

It further identified inadequate and irregular supply of pharmaceuticals and non-pharmaceuticals, job stagnation and erratic transfer of health officers, lack of capacity building programmes, poor referral and emergency services as some of the other factors affecting the key sector.

The report blamed what was termed as limited budget allocation for the several challenges affecting the sector.

The 13-member team underscored the urgency in correction of status quo saying the situation is dire, noting that if the recommendations are implemented it would improve delivery of health services to the locals.

These included review of terms of service for members of staff as well as exposing them to routine trainings, equipping health facilities with appropriate equipment, and establishing procurement systems in each facility.

Addressing the forum, Governor Natembeya thanked the team and at the same time pledged implementation of key recommendations suggested by the taskforce to ensure the County conforms to universal healthcare requirements.

“The theme for the 75^th anniversary of World Health Organization is focusing on the journey to achieving Health for All,” noted Natembeya who urged all players in the sector to embrace the theme for purposes of bettering the sector in the devolved unit.

He vowed to ensure the county’s health staff are motivated through proper remuneration and job promotions based on seniority and merit and not bias as has been the case.

The county boss used the occasion and revoked any recent transfers, pending establishment of a committee that will relook into the transfer issues within the health department.

 “We will not entertain the culture of transfers that are motivated by witch hunt. A transfer will not be part of the disciplinary process in this county,” declared Natembeya.

Mrs. Sarah Lubano, Chairperson of the Health committee, promised to rally her counterparts in the county assembly to support full implementation of the recommendations of the report.

Courtesy K.N.A