The County Government of Nakuru on Wednesday flagged off an sh100.7 million worth consignment of medical supplies from Kenya Medical Supplies Authority to be distributed to various health facilities across the county.
Speaking during the ceremony, Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui noted that the county spends almost a half a billion shillings in the health sector yearly.
He said this is meant to ensure the health sector which is key towards development is well taken care of in terms of drugs, infrastructure and human resource.
The county is also working to ensure all drugs in health facilities are coded. This, county government says will help to avert drug theft and loss of medications from health facilities.
“Every year we spend about half a billion on the health sector. We will continue investing in this area as it plays a key role on development” said Kinyanjui.
Nakuru County Executive Committee member for health Dr Gichuki Kariuki reiterated the county's commitment to ensure that all health facilities in the county are adequately stocked.
He refuted claims that some facilities in the county are lacking enough medical supplies stock adding that the county has been ensuring stocking of the facilities through a ‘pull system’ where the committee in every facility presents a list of medical supplies needed.
The medical supplies will be distributed to the 182 facilities across the county.
“The county has embarked on a journey to purchase drugs for the newly established health centres. We shall be distributing the medical supplies as per the rationale in place” he said.
On the issue of shortage of human resource, the CECM revealed that the county government of Nakuru has already put in place measures to address the same with 312 persons of different specialization in health matters expected to be employed at the end of this year.
According to Dr Gichuki, this will go a long way in addressing the challenges faced in the health sector owing to the huge workload.
“It is indeed true that we are having a shortage of health personnel but we shall be employing 312 persons in various specializations,” said Dr Gichuki.
Kemsa representative Maina Nding'ori on his part lauding the county Government of Nakuru for the continued good gesture in terms of procurement and payment of medical supplies. According to Nding’ori, Kemsa is also committed in ensuring the commodities are delivered to all the facilities.
“As Kemsa we are proud of Nakuru and we are committed to deliver the commodities to the last mile of this county,” said Nding’ori.
The ceremony was also witnessed by Nakuru County Chief Officer Public Health Samuel King’ori as well as his Medical Services counterpart Dr Solomon Sirma, County Director Medical Services Dr Benedict Osore among others.