Elgeyo Marakwet county commissioner John Korir and governor Wisley Rotich have pledged to facilitate huduma mashinani initiatives to ensure that residents acquire identity cards and birth certificates to ensure that they register with SHA.
The two leaders said that while residents have shown interest in registering, the lack of IDs and birth certificates has hindered the exercise. So far, 100,000 residents out of a population of 450,000 have registered.
The governor said all health facilities in the county were sha compliant and therefore are able to claim refunds from authority.
He said for every person registered with sha who seeks treatment in a facility, the facility will be getting sh.900 funds which he said will be retained at the facility’s account and can be used to pay utilities, salaries for staff and purchase of drugs.
Addressing wananchi during jamhuri day celebrations at Kipsoen Technical institute in Keiyo South, the governor said lack of drugs is one of the challenges facing the health sector but said the county was now using a digital system to address the challenge.
“Through the system which has been in existence for the last two months, we are able to monitor the drugs in each facility and replenish once they run out of stock,” he said.
Rotich said his government in its efforts to improve the health sector will establish a model health facility which is fully equipped in each ward and therefore called on all residents to ensure they register and update all their dependants to access health services.
The county commissioner commended the residents for their efforts in planting trees saying the county received a certificate for leading in the planting of trees.
He said the initiative by the governor to encourage the planting of fruit trees and coffee along the escarpment contributed to the success and ensured that there was vegetative cover along the hanging valleys.
“The planting of the fruit trees and coffee will see farmers earn a living and at the same time conserve the environment,” he said.
He however said planting was not enough and urged residents to ensure that there is 90% survival of the trees planted.
The CC expressed satisfaction with the government’s peace initiatives in the Kerio Valley saying for the last 6 months, the area has not experienced any case of insecurity.
This, he said has seen residents from all the communities living along the border undertake their day-to-day activities including participating in their socio-cultural activities.
By Alice Wanjiru
