Nyanza leaders meet CS Wafula to discuss health issues

Health CS Susan Wafula on Wednesday urged elected leaders from Nyanza to use their positions in Parliament to advocate for favorable laws that would enhance healthcare in Kenya.

The CS spoke when she met the leaders led by ICT CS Eliud Owalo at Afya House to discuss critical health-related issues.

During the courtesy call, the leaders discussed equipping health facilities, providing technical and personnel support, and delivering quality healthcare to locals.

Additionally, the CS implored the leaders to encourage their constituents to enroll in NHIF to access healthcare without financial concerns.

“The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of ICT are partnering to leverage technology and offer quality healthcare to rural areas,” Wafula said.

Owalo reaffirmed their commitment to government's health agenda.

Also present during the meeting were Acting Director General Patrick Amoth, and CEO of Kenya Medical Training College Kelly Oluoch.

Last year, the Managed Equipment Service Management committee proposed 15 hospitals with high-volume patients be given additional dialysis and theatre equipment under the controversial Managed Equipment Scheme project.

The team in their report has said this will enable the hospitals to cope with the increased number of patients.

The committee formed to review contracts for the project has recommended that contracts be extended for three years to ensure the continuation of services to Kenyans.

The Ministry of Health and the Council of Governors have formed a team to scrutinise the functionality of the managed equipment scheme.

“It was resolved that a joint technical team comprised of county and Ministry of Health officials be constituted to undertake an assessment of the status of functionality of the MES,” a dispatch from the CoG states.

The term of the seven-year leasing project, that involved supply, installation and maintenance of assorted medical equipment in select public health facilities, ended last December.

The decision to evaluate the functionality of the equipment follows a meeting of the governors and the MOH on Wednesday, January 25.