The Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (KEMSA) on Monday delivered medical supplies worth Sh.11 million to Turkana County as part of the first phase of medical supplies delivery.
The County executive committee member for Health, Jane Ajele said the total cost of the entire supplies to be delivered in phases is Sh. 116 million with the county directly contributing Sh. 80 million and the UHC programme footing the remaining cost of Sh. 36 million.
“The supplies which included essential medicine, pharmaceuticals, non-pharmaceuticals and laboratory supplies are expected to last the hospital for the next five months,” said Ajele.
The Medical equipment used by patients seeking Orthopedic and disability mainstreaming services such as wheelchairs and bandages have also been delivered by KEMSA.
Ajele said that procurement of the medical supplies was meant to stock enough drugs and ensure continuity of health and sanitation services in the hospital, especially during this period of the coronavirus pandemic.
The County Executive said that the drugs received consisted of consignments purchased by the ministry as well as the ones provided under the Universal Health Care program (UHC) of the National Government.
While assuring of proper use of the received medical supplies, the Lodwar County referral hospital Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Namoru Ekitela said that the hospital had already installed a working e-system for ease of monitoring and tracking the movement of drugs and other medical services.
The second phase of the supplies meant for facilities located at the sub-counties will be delivered by KEMSA in a week’s time, through the last mile technique.
The Speaker of the County Assembly, Erastus Lokaale recently said the assembly had approved the supplementary budget which allocated Sh. 667,570,600 towards Covid-19 emergency response.
The funds from the appropriation bill which Governor Josephat Nanok assented to, have been allocated to the County departments of water, health and public service and disaster management.
The county department of Public Service and Disaster Management would receive the lion’s share of Sh.441, 231,000 to provide relief food to the vulnerable people.
“We made this decision because the majority of our people are poor so we needed to cushion them during this crisis,” said Lokaale.
The ministry of health was allocated Sh.159,335,600 while the ministry of water was allocated Sh.67 million.
By Peter Gitonga
