Improved health care major success of devolution

Improved healthcare is one of the major successes of devolution, Council of Governors Chairman Peter Munya has said.

Mr Munya said service delivery in a majority of hospitals, especially in Meru County, is now efficient and beneficial to citizens because of devolution.

Speaking at the Meru Technical Training Institute Wednesday when First Lady Margaret Kenyatta took her Beyond Zero campaign and donated the 28th mobile clinic, the governor said counties have made tremendous achievements in the health sector in the last two years.

“For instance in Meru, we have prioritised provision of healthcare and committed the necessary resources.

“About 40 per cent of our annual budget goes to healthcare. It is for you to judge if health has done better under devolution compared proportionately to the last 50 years under the National Government,” Mr Munya said.

The Meru governor said it was important for the both the national and county governments to work together for Kenyans to benefit from devolution.

There have been numerous wrangles between the health workers and the county governments over the management of the crucial function.

But Health Cabinet Secretary James Macharia said health is a devolved function and would remain so.

AFYA MASHINANI

In a speech read on his behalf by Director of Preventive and Promotive Health Service Jackson Kioko, Mr Macharia said: “Health was devolved and that is why our slogan is Afya Mashinani.”

Meru County Woman Representative Florence Kajuju said it was against the Constitution to recommend that health services be reverted back to the National Government.

“I personally will ensure that health does not go back to the National Government. If we talk about Afya Mashinani, then we should retain it so that we can serve many more Kenyans,” Ms Kajuju said.

Mrs Kenyatta, who was accompanied by several wives of governors from across the country, raised concern over retrogressive practices that endanger the well-being of the girl child.

She cited female circumcision (FGM) which is still practiced in some parts of Meru County.

DANGERS OF FGM

“FGM has been known to cause both physiological and psychological problems among girls and women which sometimes lead to difficulties during childbirth, infection and even death.

“It has also contributed significantly to the high number of early marriages in Meru.

“I commend the women who have started promoting the alternative rites of passage amongst our daughters in this region,” the First Lady said.

She, at the same time, asked boda boda operators across the country to adhere to traffic rules to prevent unnecessary deaths through road accidents which the boda bodas are notoriously known for.

“Much as this industry employs a great number of our youth and local residents, I call upon the operators to adhere to the stipulated traffic laws so as to preserve the lives of our people that would otherwise have been lost to accidents,” she said.

The primary aim of the Beyond Zero campaign is to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates and improve access to medical services for women and children.

Also present during the Wednesday event was Meru County executive for Health, Dr William Muraah.