Migori Governor Ochilo Ayacko has thanked the United States through the Kenyan Embassy for helping his administration in the sector of health through the Centers for Disease Control Prevention (CDC).
Ochilo who held a closed-door meeting with the United States Ambassador to Kenya Ms. Meg Whitman at the The Center for International Health, Education, and Biosecurity-Kenya (CIHEB) offices in Rongo said that his administration will actively be seeking increased collaboration with the United States government to help curb new HIV-AIDS infections in the region, adding that this potential partnership comes at a time when HIV funding in Kenya is being reduced.
Ochilo said that the United States has also been supporting members of health staff who have been employed on behalf of the county through CIHEB-Kenya.
He called upon the United States through the Kenyan Embassy to continue supporting the staff for one additional year as the county looks to digitize its health systems to generate more revenue.
Ochilo also disclosed that he has engaged the US Ambassador in discussions revolving around agriculture that included the promotion of the Getonganya Sweet potato processing plant in Kuria, the establishment of a rice milling plant at the Lower Kuja Irrigation Scheme in Nyatike and the introduction of a storage and processing plant for daily production.
United States Ambassador to Kenya Ms. Meg Whitman said that she was grateful for partnership with the Migori County especially on issues of public health and the HIV AIDS programme.
Whitman said that the US Embassy will try to do where it can to promote community development, establish water and sanitation and promote education as important aspects for the next generation.
By Makokha Khaoya
