Siaya Governor James Orengo has affirmed his commitment to formally hire Community Health Volunteers(CHVs) to boost health service delivery in the county.
Orengo said the CHVs are an integral part of the health sector staff in the region and engaging them on better terms will motivate them to provide better services.
“In my manifesto I promised to elevate the status of CHVs since they are the first line in delivering health services in the remote areas and have significantly aided our health staff at various health facilities” said Orengo.
Speaking during a tour of Bondo Sub County Referral Hospital, Orengo disclosed his government’s intention to mainstream the CHVs and to improve their remuneration.
“We want to mainstream our CHVs so that they are not paid stipends. We want to engage them on better terms, after the passing of relevant legislations, so that they can provide better services to the residents of Siaya, ” he said.
The outgoing regime led by former Siaya governor Cornel Rasanga engaged CHVs across the county who were paid a monthly stipend of Sh2000 to support health sector staff in delivery of health services.
Orengo who was accompanied by Siaya Health and Sanitation CEC Dismas Wakla further disclosed that the current drug shortage in dispensaries and health centers in the county will be resolved within the next two weeks.
“My government has already taken action to resolve the issue of shortage of drugs in dispensaries and health centers. We have already been assured that the drugs will be supplied within two weeks.” Orengo said.
The governor said his government will strengthen the procurement process to ensure sourcing for drugs are done before they run out of stock at the health facilities.
He reiterated his commitment to upgrade Siaya and Bondo referral hospital through infrastructure development and increasing the number of doctors to provided better services to the people in the region.
“I have observed that most units at Bondo Hospital are temporary structures and mortuaries in Siaya County with exception of Yala sub county hospital do not have refrigeration facilities befitting their level 4 status. We will therefore endeavor to upgrade these facilities,” he said.
The governor assured Bondo residents that the perennial water shortage at the sub county referral facility will be prioritized by his government and addressed immediately to ease operations at the hospital.
Bondo MP Gedion Ochanda and the host Bondo sub county hospital medical superintendent Dr. Michael Oduor hailed Governor Orengo for touring the facility terming it a sign of commitment by the governor to address the challenges of that have affected service delivery at facility.
By Brian Ondeng
