Residents of Nyandarua County have welcomed Governor Moses Badilisha’s proposals to establish Hospital Boards to help in the management of its health facilities.
The residents said the decentralization of the decision making role to hospital boards would go a long way in ensuring need based interventions in boosting the facilities.
A number, however, felt that the boards were a misuse of public resources, with the managers being the governor’s political hoodwinks.
“Poorly restocked hospitals, low doctor to patient ratio, as well as denial of services and numerous referrals may be a thing of the past as these boards, if constituted properly, will ensure service delivery,” noted Jackson Muraguri a resident of Ol Jororok Constituency.
Governor Dr. Moses Badilisha, who has already seen the first consignment of drugs distributed to the various facilities across the county, noted that all the 78 health facilities would offer stellar services to the residents.
Badilisha promised to establish hospital boards to oversee their operationalization, noting with concern the delay in restocking the facilities.
“Healthcare needs undivided attention and the dispensaries and health centres will be operational across the county,” he noted.
“We need to have at least one level four hospital facility in every sub county and this calls for upgrading of our health centres,” added Badilisha, during his recent address to the County’s Assembly.
He noted that the County Public Service Board was at an advanced stage to recruit more health workers to bridge the doctor- patient ratio that lagged at 1: 10,000.
“Most of these appointees will be his political allies and we are not sure they will serve to the interest of the public. It is however a move that can be used to ensure we are served,” noted Jane Njeri.
The county boosts of two referral hospitals in Ol Kalou and Engineer, with the integrated plans pointing at upgrade.
Badilisha has rallied the Members of the County Assembly to positively consider allocations to the health sector, promising to increase funding for drug stores to save residents from seeking the same from private outlets.
By Anne Sabuni
