Kitui Governor Julius Malombe has flagged off drugs worth Sh108 million for all 306 health facilities in the county.
When he took the oath of office on August 25, Malombe decried the lack of drugs in health facilities and promised to ensure that they have drugs in 100 days.
Malombe said during his campaign, residents had decried the shortage of drugs.
“I held between three to five campaign rallies in each of the 40 wards. The people asked me to prioritise the issuance of drugs when elected,” he said.
The governor spoke at the Kitui County Referral Hospital on Wednesday.
The flagging-off event was attended by deputy governor Augustine Kanani, Kitui county assembly Speaker Kevin Katisya and the Kitui Health executive Winnie Kitetu.
Malombe said his administration purchased drugs worth Sh96 million, and also got an additional supply of drugs worth Sh12 million from the national government, through the Universal Health Care programme.
He said that although there was a huge debt to be cleared with Kemsa, his administration would ensure it is paid so that the supply of drugs is not cut.
However, Malombe said his administration would emphasise promotive and preventive healthcare services to reduce the number of people visiting hospitals for treatment for preventable ailments.
He said community health volunteers would be central in the promotive and preventive health services since its success would release resources that go to curative services to other crucial development programmes.
Malombe said stringent measures had been put in place to ensure that the drugs consignment reached their intended facilities.
The deputy governor said health facilities will no longer lack drugs.
He said government hospital drugs will not find their way into private pharmacies as it happened in the past.
Kanani said even with the provision of drugs health workers and medics should have a positive attitude as they attend to patients.
This, he said, will improve the quality of services offered to the people.
Katisya said he was impressed that Malombe promised to stock all health facilities in the county with drugs and he has kept his word.
He said since Kitui had a lot of expectations in Malombe’s leadership, he hoped the governor would satisfactorily meet their expectations.
Edited by Kiilu Damaris
