Development partner lauded

Busia Governor Sospeter Ojaamong has lauded United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for funding health sector in the county.
Addressing the USAID team led by new Mission Director for Kenya and East Africa during a courtesy call in his office on Wednesday, Ojaamong said USAID and other donor partners contribute a total of Sh3.2 billion to the county’s health sector annually.
“Our health sector with an annual total budget of Sh6.5 billion depends on donor support which accounts for 48 per cent,” he said adding that his government contributes Sh 2 billion, leaving a deficit of Sh1.5billion.
He added that Busia still faced challenges as a border County where over 30 per cent of the patients seeking treatment in the health facilities in Busia and Malaba come from Uganda.
The Governor further stated that his government had invested a lot in infrastructure at the sub-county hospitals, with theatres, laboratories, maternity wards among others, adding that they were all being equipped.
Busia Deputy Governor Moses Mulomi thanked the donor agency for the various programmes it is funding in the county including HIV/AIDS, Malaria, TB, nutrition among others which has contributed to high mortality rate in the county.
“Our partnership will go a long way in addressing the many challenges facing patients who seek both preventive and curative health care in line with the National Government’s Big Four Agenda,” he said.
By Salome Alwanda