The Nairobi County government has released a health reforms taskforce report themed ‘reduce health burden’.
The taskforce was mandated to review and analyze equipment, medicine and operations in county hospitals and health facilities and give recommendations on how to improve service delivery and ensure better health for Nairobi residents.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja speaking during the launch in Nairobi on Thursday observed that although change is difficult, it is inevitable.
He further stated that he would like the capital to be a city of order comparable to world class cities such as New York and Singapore.
Sakaja stated that one of the key mandates of the taskforce was to give recommendations on ways to reorganize the implementation of Health Service delivery in Nairobi County so as to assist in public health and benefit its residents.
AMREF Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr Githinji Gitahi who was present during the occasion observed that health issues are largely dominated by maternal and child services and if these are improved, then the majority of residents’ needs will be catered for.
The task force recommended for a proper referral system that is documented so as to support primary health care.
They also recommended a working emergency service which will come in handy in case of emergencies like accidents and heart attacks.
Additionally, the taskforce recommended that the county should have an enabled operational primary health care service citing that the county health act had a provision where hospitals had funds set aside for proper sanitation which included the provision of clean water and litter collection.
The report also recommends for reduction of the disease burden by focusing on reorganizing and reviewing hygienic services and maintaining a sound environmental health and having a legal framework to enforce it.
According to the taskforce report, Nairobi has a population of 4.3 million people with the highest disease burdens being pneumonia, coughing and diarrhoea.
The task force applauded the Nairobi governor for the payment of volunteer community health workers in the county.
Members of the taskforce include Prof Olive Mugenda (chairlady), Dr. Mercy Mwangangi, Dr. Anastacia Nyalita, Dr. Githinji Gitahi, Ms. Dorcas Kemunto, Ms. Karei Mwenda, and Dr. William Charles Fryda.
By Phinta Amondi/ Joseph Ng’ang’a
