Bungoma governor Ken Lusaka has appointed eleven hospital boards to provide oversight on health facilities management across the county.
Speaking during the board’s inauguration at the county headquarters, Lusaka said that there was a need to equip hospitals with adequate facilities to run effectively.
The Governor, while stressing the need for accountability noted that the boards will be charged with providing oversight over the administration of the hospital, promoting the development of the hospital, approving plans and programs for implementing county health strategies, approving estimates before submission to the executive members and carrying out any other function assigned by the executive member.
He asked the boards to ensure that strategic policy frameworks exist coupled with effective oversight, coalition building, regulation, attention to system design, and accountability.
“Governance in the health system accounts for all the processes of governing the delivery of health services to the people”, he said
Lusaka said it is the governance structure that holds boards and leaders accountable for continuously improving operations, clinical staff and processes, society and financial performance.
He added the clinical side of operations, which includes caring for patients, managing clinical practices and administration will be part of their mandate.
Lusaka urged the boards to ensure there are working ambulances in the hospitals for emergency responses and emergency response staff including drivers who ought to report on duty without fail and are facilitated adequately to perform their duties.
The governor said he has received complaints that some ambulance drivers were not reporting on duty in some hospitals.
He warned that if the public raises concern about any hospitals he will take stern action against the board members.
“I will start with you, the board members, because you have the responsibility to oversee the efficient operations in those facilities,” he added.
Dr. Andrew Wamalwa, CEC for health and sanitation lauded Lusaka for appointing the boards saying that its members went through tough vetting to ensure that they are fit for the task.
Bungoma County assembly health and Sanitation Chairman George Makari said that the assembly recently approved Sh1.1 billion for health in Bungoma County.
He asked key players in the health docket to ensure that the funds are utilized prudently to benefit locals.
By Bronley Kidari and Roseland Lumwamu
