• The county has listed 843,683 (85 per cent) out of the targeted 1.2 million people in the county in the UHC program.
• Those registered are now able to access free services in public hospitals
Image: MAURICE ALAL
Kisumu will spend Sh63 million in annual salaries on 179 health staff to be hired to boost the piloting of universal health coverage.
Health executive Judith Attyang yesterday said they will use the UHC funds disbursed by the national government. The county is keen to improve services to keep abreast with the increased number of people visiting hospitals.
“For us to offer quality health services, innovative approaches are needed to fill the gap in human resources,” she said.
The county conducted a detailed gap analysis that revealed that only 26 per cent of the needed workforce is in service. Those to be recruited are community health extension workers, radiographers, medical laboratory technologists, pharmaceutical technologists, nurses, clinical officers and nutritionists.
Since the launch of the UHC pilot, many residents are seeking services from public hospitals has increased. Of the targeted 1.2 million people, the county has registered 843,683 ( 85 per cent). Kisumu is one of the four counties in the pilot programme. It was included because it has a high prevalence of infectious diseases. The other counties are Nyeri, Isiolo and Machakos.
Attyang said those registered are now able to access free services in public hospitals. She said figures from the department of health show that the demand for services has doubled since the pilot programme was launched. This has strained the health sector, hence the need for more staff, she said.
The national government plans to scale up the programme countrywide. Attyang said they are working with stakeholders to bridge the gaps in human resources and infrastructure, among other needs. The county is committed to improving health infrastructure through additional facilities. It will modernise and equip existing hospitals for successful implementation of the UHC.
Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital is already being upgraded. Modern theatres have been commissioned in Kombewa, Ahero and Muhoroni subcounty hospitals, with one under construction in Pap-Onditi, Nyakach, to handle primary healthcare and referrals.
The county has put in place a modern ambulatory system for referral cases in seven subcounties. It has acquired state-of-the-art ambulances worth Sh75 million. They are equipped with emergency life support machines that are equivalent to an Intensive Care Unit. The Kenya National Highways Authority also provided another ambulance, bringing the number to nine.
The national government, through the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority, is to provide pharmaceuticals and non-pharmaceuticals items.
Kisumu has 210 health facilities. Of the number, 124 are government-owned. The rest are run by faith-based organisations, the private sector, and non-governmental organisations.
The focus is to reduce the disease burden and death rates. The HIV prevalence is at 19.9 per cent. Some 595 women die during childbirth for every 100,000 deliveries. Seventy-nine of every 1,000 children die before their fifth birthday.
Attyang’ said the health indicators are worsened by poverty. Fifty per cent of residents live below the poverty line, she said.
(Edited by F'Orieny)