- She also revealed that the government is in the process of establishing data for medical workers across the country.
- The PS said despite improving human resource power, they also want to ensure all facilities are well equipped.
Image: KIPLANGAT KIRUI
Kenya Kwanza government is at the forefront in ensuring that the health agenda is strengthened so that Kenyans can access quality services, Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni has said.
PS Muthoni said with the recent signing of four healthcare Bills into law by President William Ruto, the people get accessible, available and affordable health services.
"We applaud President Ruto for ensuring the Social Health Insurance that is among three other laws is geared towards accelerating progress towards universal health coverage as envisioned by the Kenya Kwanza government,” Muthoni said.
She spoke after meeting women in Nkoben, Olulunga ward, Narok South subcounty.
The PS later attended a thanksgiving ceremony for Narok County health chief officer Jane Kiok at Olepolos village.
The event was attended by Narok Governor Patrick Ole Ntutu, MPs Rebecca Tonkei (Narok Women Representative), Kitilai ole Ntutu (Narok South), Tourism PS John Oltuaa and Narok county Assembly Majority Leader Sonkoi Lemein.
She added that the new health scheme will save Kenyans the money they normally use when seeking treatment that is expensive.
“Most people have not been affording some treatments because it is expensive and most of the time resort to fundraisers so that they can access the services with the healthcare and they will access the treatment,” she said.
She also revealed that the government is in the process of establishing data for medical workers across the country so that they can know the gap experienced in human resource power.
The PS said despite improving human resource power, they also want to ensure all facilities are well equipped in terms of equipment via the Facility Improvement Financing Bill.
“Our community health promoters will play a big role in early diagnosis of ailments and referrals if need be at the grassroots to save lives among Kenyans,” she said.
The PS also said the health promoters are up to the task as they have been trained to provide a wide range of health services including nutrition education, immunization, prenatal care and treatment of minor ailments.
She used the opportunity to urge Kenyans to go for regular cancer to detect the disease at early stages.
While saying that Cancer Awareness Day was celebrated last month, she said that when the disease is diagnosed at early stages it can be contained.
Muthoni challenged the counties to employ more medical personnel so as to ease the shortage experienced in the health facilities.
She said that the survey has shown that most hospitals have few personnel and it is the responsibility of every devolved unit to ensure that their facilities are staffed so as to meet the growing number of people seeking health services.
“We have toured all the hospitals in the country and we established that there is a need for more personnel staff because the county governments have mandates of employing doctors and nurses,” Muthoni said.