Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua was on Wednesday elated after he learned that the county has been considered by the State to benefit from 100 percent universal healthcare roll out.
Mutua said his government has been spending over 30 percent of its budget on healthcare and the new boost would not only achieve healthcare for all but also make it affordable to the locals.
'”Health care has been a top priority for my government. Machakos County is on record for being the first county to embrace the Sh38 billion managed equipment service (MES) program executed by the Ministry of Health," Mutua said.
Other counties identified by the Health Ministry to benefit from the program include Kisumu, Isiolo and Nyeri.
The initiative will be funded by the National Government in partnership with its developmental partners.
The MES program has seen the Machakos Level Five Hospitals conducts over 4,000 renal dialysis sessions over the past three years bringing relief to kidney patients who had to travel long distances for the service.
Machakos County executive in charge of health and emergency services, Naomi Mutie also welcomed the move saying the county had made enormous strides in healthcare since the onset of devolution.
'”The MES program has benefited over 4,186 patients by February this year who had relocated to Nairobi and elsewhere to seek renal services', county executive member in charge of health and emergency services," Mutie disclosed.