Cabinet Secretary for Health Susan Nakhumicha has urged expectant mothers in Migori County to utilize the Linda Mama health programme for both their safety and the unborn.
Speaking during a funds drive at Saint Mary’s Catholic Church in Uriri Sub County- Migori, Nakhumicha reiterated that Migori was among the counties that were not fully utilising the programme.
Linda Mama is a government health cover-sponsored programme for maternal and child health services and subsequently contribute to the country’s progress towards Universal Health Cover (UHC).
She noted that it was important for expectant mothers to visit health facilities for both ante-natal and post-natal services for healthy babies, noting the costs are covered under the programme.
Nakhumicha disclosed that in the 2023/2024 financial budget, the Ministry of Health was allocated Shs.4.98 billion for the programme to cater for expectant mothers across the country.
She also acknowledged that the government had already set aside Shs.50 million to build a health facility in Uriri Sub County.
The Cabinet Secretary added that this October the Ministry of Health will operationalize all dispensaries and levels 1 and 2 hospitals to provide services for free.
“We want to ensure that health services are provided for free at the lowest devolved units to ensure that our citizens get the best and necessary health services,” said Nakhumicha.
She pointed out that in one month’s time, Community Health Promoters across the country will start earning stipends for the noble and crucial role they play at grassroots levels in terms of prompting and offering health services.
Nakumicha however, urged the Migori residents to embrace developmental projects in the county to help them steer economic development in South Nyanza.
“Let us all embrace the government of the day, accept and appreciate the national projects because they are aimed at promoting social economic agendas of our country,” CS noted.
The function where Shs.7 million was raised, was also attended by the National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula, Principal Secretaries for Interior and National Administration Raymond Omollo and Social Protection and Senior citizens’ affairs Joseph Motari, Uriri Member of Parliament Mark Nyamita and other Migori County elected leaders.
By Geoffrey Makokha
