Kakamega County will roll out programmes to improve access to health services by enhancing Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
Governor Fernandes Barasa said that the programmes are meant to minimize poor health seeking behavior among people.
The world marked International Universal Health Coverage Day on Monday with this year’s theme being, build the world we want: A healthy future for all.
He said part of the plan, on health, sanitation and hygiene, is to support health facilities across the county by stoking them with adequate drugs and avail the required healthcare.
“I want to assure all the residents of Kakamega County that my administration is going to focus on providing healthcare instead of building hospitals without drugs,” he noted.
The Governor noted that Kakamega General Hospital should be delivering all the required healthcare services meant for a level five facility unlike what is currently happening.
“My recent impromptu visit to the facility revealed that the hospital has a number of non-functional equipment due to lack of very minor accessories such as reagents, lack of routine servicing of diagnostic machines such as X-ray and Computed Tomography(CT) scan,” he disclosed.
He called upon the County Executive Committee member and Chief Officer for health to work around the clock to improve service delivery at the General Hospital.
At the same time, Governor Barasa noted that the completion, equipping and operationalization of the Kakamega County Teaching and Referral hospital will increase access to healthcare services for the entire region.
“I am happy to announce that I held fruitful discussion with President William Ruto last week concerning the facility and he agreed for an implementation framework to ensure completion and equipping of the hospital through a Public Private Partnership Development Model,” he added.
Once complete, the 750 bed capacity Referral Hospital will create employment to more than 5000 people, support medical students to carry out their practical sessions including research and contribute economically to the county’s own source revenue.
The County government aims to complete the first phase of the hospital by the end of 2023.
By Anne Otieno and Moses Wekesa
