No need to take back health functions to national Government, Governors say.
By Dickson Odhiambo.
May 17, 2019.
No need to take back health
functions to national Government, Governors say.
A SECTION of Governors across the country have said they
don’t want the health function that was devolved to counties as one of its functions
not to be taken back to the National Government as has been agitated by some
stakeholders.
The Governors said the health functions has been doing well
at the county since the advent of devolution following the March 4, 2013
General election that ushered in devolution hence no need to take it back to
the National Government as one of its functions there.
Speaking during the second day of the third Kenya National
UHC Conference being held in Kisumu, the Governors led by the Chairman of the
Health Committee of the Council of Governors Dr. Mohamed Kuti resolved that the
health function remain with the County Governments.
Kuti said what needs to be done is only to allocate more
funds to the health sector which has since been devolved to counties so as to
be able to give adequate health services.
Kuti who is also the
Isiolo County Governor said Committee of health of the Council of Governors is
fully committed in ensuring that the UHC succeeds.
He said there is need to have a baseline data so as to prove
the success of UHC in counties.
“We need to have data on what gains have been made so far as
well as having a baseline data on maternal mortality,” he said.
The Chair of the Health Committee in the council of
Governors said the issue of Human resource must also be addressed so as the
issue of UHC fully succeed.
He at the same time urged all counties to establish Kenya
Medical Training Colleges within their counties so as to help in the training
of the health care personnel as this will help in boosting the issue of human
resources.
The he said the referral systems must be strong by
strengthening dispensaries and health centers at the lower level so as to help
ease off pressure at the various referral hospitals in the counties.
“People will prefer going to the dispensaries and health
centers if they are well established and staffed with qualified personnel
rather than going to the referral facilities. This is because the services will
be right next to them at such health facilities at the grass root level,” Dr.
Kuti said.
Kuti also said counties are now gearing towards meeting the
demands of the people in terms of health care and this will be realized when
the health care systems are strengthened at the grass root level.
“UHC is working and health service delivery is improving
under devolution hence we need to have health fully as a devolved function at
the county level,” Kuti further said.
A number of Governors have also echoed the same sentiment
that health function should remain with the county Governments.
Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kaiga said Universal Health Coverage
is a dream come true, adding that it will succeed at the county levels.
Machakos Governor Dr. Alfred Mutua said Devolution has made
greater achievements especially in the health sector and UHC should be
embraced.
“Universal health Coverage is doing well in the counties and
there is no need to take back the health function to the national Government,”
Dr. Mutua said.
Kisumu Deputy Governor Dr. Mathews Owili who spoke on behalf
of his boss Prof Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o said the county has made gains in the
health sector since UHC was launch on
pilot basis last year in December.
He urged the county Assemblies to pass budget on
appropriation of funds which will be used in the implementation of the Universal
Health Coverage.
Kisumu, Isiolo, Nyeri and Machakos Counties are the four
counties in the Country where the Universal Health Coverage was launched on a
pilot basis.
President Uhuru Kenyatta together with Opposition leader
Raila launched the initiative in Kisumu on December 13 last year.
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