Africa-Press – Kenya. Heath Cabinet Secretary Susan Wafula has pledged to work with the county government of Uasin Gishu to help deliver on its health agenda. The CS spoke when she paid a courtesy call to Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii.
Wafula reiterated the national government’s commitment to supporting county governments to improve access to affordable and quality healthcare. The duo discussed a wide range of health issues including areas of collaboration between the national government and the county administration.
The key thing, she said, is to support health facilities under the county government, to enhance health services for area residents. Governor Bii said his administration remains ready to work with the national government to help deliver on its pre-election pledges.
Healthcare is a devolved function which means that county governments are entrusted with all functions related to health care while the national government is responsible for health policy.
The national government is also in charge of the national referral health facilities such as Kenyatta National Hospital and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital. This, has, however, left healthcare workers extremely dissatisfied leading to frequent strikes at both county and national levels.
This has seen health unions push for the formation of a Health Service Commission as the only guarantee for the achievement of the desired reforms and harmony in the health sector.
“We reiterate that health is a shared function between the two levels of government and we fully support devolution,” they said in a past joint statement.
“However, we note that the management of the human resources for health has been mismanaged resulting in several industrial strikes. The several efforts to resolve the challenges faced by health care workers have not borne fruits.”
The healthcare workers said the lack of a central body to manage the human resource in the health sector has seen counties experience staffing shortages. They said counties have been reluctant to promote and re-designate health workers leading to staff demotivation.
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