Community Health Promoters (CHPs) in Kakamega will benefit from Sh25.5million National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) cover that will be extended to their family members.
Governor Fernandes Barasa said the enhanced cover is meant to enable the more than 4250 CHPs to enjoy health services just like other civil servants.
He said the County government will also increase their monthly stipend from Sh2000 to Sh2500 with the possibility of the amount doubling if President William Ruto honors his promise to them during his visit to the county.
The CHPs will also receive modern kits and appropriate data equipment from the county government as Governor Barasa makes a firm commitment to improve the health sector in the county.
Speaking at Bukhungu Stadium during the Launch of Kakamega County Health Services Fund, governor Barasa said the county government will increase recurrent allocation from Sh773 million to Sh1.2 billion in the coming financial year in the health sector in fulfilment of his manifesto.
“In order to strengthen universal health coverage in this county, I will continue to engage the county assembly to allocate funds annually to facilitate the registration of vulnerable households and indigents with NHIF scheme,” he noted.
He also said the county government has allocated Sh110million for Imarisha Afya ya Mama na Mtoto programme which is now known as Barasa Care.
“This programme is aimed at improving the utilization of services in our health facilities including immunization and skilled deliveries,” he added.
The Governor promised that the county government will provide comprehensive service delivery in all the 16 level 4 hospitals by introducing new services, ensuring availability of quality laboratory, imaging and rehabilitative services.
“We undertake to renovate all the existing health facilities, purchase medical equipment such as CT-Scans, X-Ray machines, Ultrasound machines, laboratory equipment as well as theatre equipment,” he added.
On infrastructure development, Governor Barasa made a commitment to expand health infrastructure across all the 12 sub counties including completing the construction of 23 ongoing health projects and 50 stalled ones.
He said that they will undertake expansion of existing health facilities, operationalize and complete all the non-functional health infrastructure as per the required standards and norms, including operationalization of a solid waste management plant installed at Kakamega County Referral Hospital.
“We have set aside Sh300 million through the proposed county budget in the next financial year for recruitment of additional healthcare workers and we shall gradually reduce the staffing gaps with a view to improve service delivery to our people,” the governor added.
He noted that with support from the National Government, Kakamega County intends to complete, equip and operationalize the new level 6 hospital as a premier Teaching and Referral Centre in the Lake Region Economic Bloc (LREB).
“I also appreciate the President for committing to allocate Sh200 million in the next financial year, and Sh1 billion to facilitate the equipping of our level 6 hospital starting from the next financial year,” he added.
The Governor was applauded by the Regional Director Thinkwell East and Southern Africa Dr. Ann Musuba for effective management of funds to provide quality healthcare services to Kakamega residents.
Thinkwell together with other partners have supported the county government to improve infrastructure of health facilities through the Tutunze Kakamega project that aims to improve maternal and newborn survival by shifting where and when mothers access care.
“It is about ensuring that mothers who need a delivery service can get it in a hospital providing high quality care, and this is a well-functioning hospital with equipment that is needed to provide services,” she noted.
Since the inception of the project, Thinkwell together with partners supported the construction of a maternity theatre and newborn unit at Malava Sub County hospital and renovations of Lumakanda hospital.
“In terms of emergency transport, the consortium has supported evacuation of more than 6000 pregnant mothers and newborns requiring urgent medical attention,” she added.
By Moses Wekesa
