I'll prioritise healthcare, clean water and food security — Otuoma

@eosere

Busia Governor Paul Otuoma has said he has an elaborate plan that will see Busia residents harvest the fruits of his leadership in the first 100 days.

Otuoma said in the first three months, he will improve healthcare, provide clean water and ensure food security for the residents.

The governor and his deputy Arthur Odera were sworn into office on Thursday by High Court Judge P.J Otieno and Busia Chief Magistrate Lucy Ambasi.

“Within my first 100 days, I will mobilise resources to ensure our hospitals have adequate drugs and non-pharmaceuticals. I will work on the facelift of lower-level health facilities to provide primary healthcare, to reduce referral cases to our county referral hospital,” Otuoma said.

“We shall strengthen institutional and technical capacities for the provision of effective health care service delivery in health facilities and that of National Health Insurance Fund coverage.”

Otuoma who succeeded Busia Governor Sospeter Ojaamong said it beats logic that despite billions sent by the National Treasury to the county, almost all hospitals had no drugs by the time he was being sworn in.

“We will work to improve access to quality health care services through investment in the infrastructure of Level 1 facilities, I will promote sustainable health financing through the inclusion of residents in NHIF.”

Otuoma said he will lobby the national government for the upgrade of Busia County Referral Hospital to Level 6.

This, he said, is in consideration of the high population the facility serves.

“I will equip and improve the Level 4 health facilities in Nambale, Port Victoria, Kocholia, Amukura, Sio-port and Khunyangu. We will enhance community and health partner engagement in preventive health interventions to reduce morbidity rates,” he said.

“I shall implement a scheme of service to all practitioners in the health sector including the Community Health Volunteers to improve service delivery.” 

Otuoma urged health practitioners to change their attitude towards dealing with people seeking services because they have a right to quality healthcare.

A hungry population, the governor said, is an unproductive population.

“The county government may not provide food directly to the citizens, it is, however, responsible for supporting the people to ensure they produce enough food for themselves and earn a living,” Otuoma said.

He said presently, the cost of a two-kilogram tin of maize is above Sh140 and that majority of Busia people cannot afford the product.

The governor said families are starving but his administration will strengthen producer groups in the agricultural sector and link them to markets and business development service providers to promote agribusiness and exploit local market opportunities.

“I shall promote livestock breed improvement to improve quality and increase supply, support most vulnerable households with farm inputs, improve crop seeds and strengthen the capacity of agricultural extension officers,” he said.

“The officers will provide extension services and advice to the farmers on the best agronomic practices and climate-smart agriculture and other agricultural technologies.”

He said he intends to improve and entrench irrigation farming to ensure areas with sufficient water catchment like Bunyala and parts of Teso North, have maximum production to feed the county and country.

Otuoma said he will seek the intervention of the national government and the National Fisheries Research Institute to create economic stimulus programmes to support aquaculture, cage farming and Blue Economy projects.

“I will request for refocusing of mainstream agricultural research institutes such as Kalro and KARI to support the production of diversified agricultural products in the county, to improve seed quality, and increase productivity.

During his engagement with the residents, Otuoma said families expressed serious challenges in accessing clean water.

“We shall carry out feasibility studies, surveys and designs to develop and implement a Busia County Water Master plan for construction of water supply systems, sanitation and hygiene solutions,” Otuoma said.

He said he will commit to support water and sewerage companies in the county through a policy framework and public private partnership to ensure that water is available to residents.

The governor said he will strive to expand the available water sources through pipeline extension construction to reduce the walking distance in search of water in the county.

The event was attended by Busia Senator-elect Okiya Omtatah, Woman Rep-elect Catherine Omanyo and MPs-elect Oku Kaunya (Teso North), Mary Emase (Teso South), Geoffrey Mulanya (Nambale), Geoffrey Odanga (Matayos), Wilberforce Mudenyo (Funyula) and Raphael Wanjala (Budalang’i).

Others were outgoing Senator Amos Wako, former Westlands MP Fred Gumo, outgoing Governor Sospeter Ojaamong and his deputy Moses Mulomi, Iteso Cultural Union deputy prime minister in charge of Kenya region Fredrick Adungo, former MCAs and MCAs-elect.

Edited by Kiilu Damaris