USAID launches Sh1 billion health service programme in five counties

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has launched the Closing Gaps in Devolved Health Service Delivery for Select Counties programme.

USAID is an American agency that provides assistance to countries that are recovering from disasters, trying to escape poverty, and working towards democratic reforms.

The agency in collaboration with the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) as its implementing body and key partners being Development Initiatives and Concern Worldwide, is providing funding to improve local health services by making health systems more accountable and well-funded.

USAID has allocated a budget to the tune of $7.99 million(Sh1.025 billion) to facilitate the programme.

The programme will be run in five counties, Isiolo, Nakuru, Mombasa, Kakamega and Kilifi for a period of five years.

Selection for said counties was based on USAID's investment on health in the regions and on the diversity of the counties being that they are widely spread across the country.

Speaking during the launch, John Mutua, the Chief of Party, said that the programme focuses on better financing and spending, increased oversight and accountability and providing consistent health policies.

"The project aims to improve health care quality and ensure Kenyans have a say in how their health systems are run," he said.

"This in turn leads to more sustainable health improvement and greater impact on the community's well-being," he added.

Through IEA, USAID aims to generate research and evidence to better understand and tackle health service challenges.

The agency also aims to make information more user-friendly in a bid to simplify budget information for the public and strengthen public finance management to enhance the administration and oversight of financial resources.

Additionally, it aims to implement better policy engagement and advocacy to promote the best health policies and practices.

To achieve these objectives, Mutua said the agency aims to implement improved county revenue generation by addressing gaps in the system.

It looks to increase the capacity of county assemblies to enhance oversight of public health spending.

Furthermore, it looks to develop clearer and more accessible information on health budgeting and expenditures by collaborating with county governments to co-create tools for public information.

In addition, it aims to introduce legal and regulatory reforms to address deficiencies in health laws through evidence-based approaches.

It also looks to educate CSOs and private sector entities on accessing and utilising public finance data to improve public health sector oversight.

Notable persons in attendance included the Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang'o who addressed the issue of oversight of funds in the health sector.

Nyakang'o said that there has been a notable area of concern due to the lack of transparency in the usage of funds.

"So there are areas of wastage that I think needs to be improved. There are also areas of outright fraud. And this is where expenditure is either totally non-existent or it is exaggerated," Nyakang'o said.

The CoB said that when there is non-existent or non-exaggerated expenditure there will not be a true picture rotary explain how funds have been utilised.