Bungoma county allocates over ksh200M to promote affordable healthcare PHC!
“This is a global agenda towards promoting health services to be more accessible, affordable and acceptable”
By Achola Bulimo Mathews –Bungoma County
Bungoma governor Kenneth Lusaka has re-affirmed his governments’ commitment to ensure residents get quality and affordable healthcare.
Speaking at Mechimeru health center in East Sang’alo ward, Kanduyi constituency, During the official launch of the Last Mile Health care system , Governor , Lusaka pointed out that the launch of PHC is a demonstration of his commitment and that the county government towards global, national and regional efforts to accelerate Universal Health coverage.
“This is a global agenda towards promoting health services to be more accessible, affordable and acceptable to the communities in Bungoma County,” he said.
Lusaka stated that PHC is “a whole of society” approach to health that aims at ensuring the highest possible level of health and well-being and their equitable distribution by focusing on people’s needs.
He added that his government through the implementation of PHC will align with national priorities to strengthen access to health services, ensure quality of health services, protect people of Bungoma from financial risks of ill health and strengthen the responsiveness of the health system.
Lusaka noted that his government has allocated Sh200 million this financial year for effective implementation of PHC activities.
“This is the first budget line to have ever been considered as allocation specifically for PHC since the beginning of devolution,” he said.
The governor also in collaboration with development partners managed to launch a PHC caravan which will be instrumental in promoting proactive outreach services to the communities in Bungoma County to reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases, cancer, and mental health illnesses and increase immunization coverage.
The county government is also establishing health centers in all 45 wards in Bungoma County, already 19 health centers exist and they are working to upgrade 26 dispensaries to health centers in the wards.
“Community health promoter’s alias Madaktari Mashinani will also be given CHP kits to enhance community level service provision,” he said.
Lusaka added, “CHP will be trained this July on digital data collection and given smart phones to enhance the capture of information from households,”
The Governor also announced that the Community Health Promoters (CHPs) formerly Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) will have an increase in their stipend to Ksh. 2,500 with the National Government to also give the same amount.
Mrs Valentine Morogo the western region Coordinator of National health insurance Fund NHIF Noted that they are going to continue partnering with the county Government of Bungoma to enable more than 30,000 households are enrolled in the programme for the provision of better health care services amongst residents especially those from vulnerable families.
Also present was the Bungoma County Deputy Governor Janepher Mbatiany, CECMs; Andrew Wamalwa (Health and Sanitation), David Wamamili (Education and VTCs), County Assembly Health Committee Chairman cum Musikoma ward Member of County Assembly Hon George Makari.