The West Pokot Governor, John Lonyangapuo on Wednesday flagged off the last batch of pharmaceutical drugs for Sigor sub county hospital in Pokot Central Sub County and other satellite health facilities within the sub county.
The governor had earlier on Monday and Tuesday launched drugs purchased by the county government for health facilities located within the county.
Speaking during the ceremony held outside his office in Kapenguria, Lonyangapuo called on local residents to avoid introducing politics in matters concerning health.
“Let us avoid politics in matters that are sensitive. Some individuals are using the health sector in West Pokot County to gain their political mileage and we will not let that to happen. We can’t risk the lives of innocent people for your mediocrity,” said the governor.
The governor cautioned residents from getting dragged into divisive politics and stated that inciters would face serious punishment.
He added that the county was keen on matters affecting the livelihood of its people especially concerning health and education.
“We have hired three more specialists and seven medical officers through the county government to boost medical services in the county,” he said.
He urged medical staff to conduct more mobile health outreach services in the region because of the inaccessibility of the area and due to constraints of poverty among those living in the village.
Residents who attended the ceremony decried the elongated dry season which has affected productivity of the region in terms of agriculture and urged the governor to focus more on the lives of the people.
Lonyangapuo said all health facilities in the county are well supplied with drugs that can last for five months and
cautioned that people should stop making aimless speculations.
The Governor also challenged medical practitioners to put integrity first in their work.
“However I am urging the health practitioners to do their work in honesty. Be the eyes of the people rather than the thieves of our own drugs,” said the governor.
Various members of the county assembly of West Pokot lauded the governor for signing into law the Facility Improvement Fund (FIF) bill making it the first county to do so.
Geoffrey Lipale, the County Executive Committee Member in charge of health said that thorough auditing would be done to prevent loss of funds through the FIF programme.
Lomut, Mosol, Sarmach, Orwo, Onoch, Takaywa, Tikit, Wakor, Sekerr, Kokwotondwo, Nasolot, Marich Pass, Sostin, Nyangaita and Annet are some of the areas that would benefit from the disbursed drugs. Others are Sigor sub county hospital and a total of 25 new dispensaries around the region.
By Enock Toroitich/ John Saina
