Central Region Counties Want Budget On Health Pegged On 30 Per Cent Of Entire Allocation
Central Region Economic Bloc leadership with other stakeholders during the Lake Naivasha Resort forum last week
By Our Correspondents
Worth Noting:
- Meeting under the theme of, “Enhancing Healthcare Through Domestic Resources Mobilization”, the stakeholders included, representatives of top county leaderships, CECs in charge of Health and Finance as well some Chief Officers.
- They were brought together by various organisations like Central Kenya Development Network (CKDN) which was represented by Ambassador Stephen Karau, Stop TB partnership Kenya through Ms Evalyn Kibuchi, AMREF Health Africa where Gloria Okoko represented Country Director Dr Meshack Ndirangu and KANCO’s Jack Mathenge who acted for CEO Allan Ragi.
- They discussed the disease burden in the region noting that it consists mainly of preventable communicable diseases as well a high mortality from non-communicable diseases.
Stakeholders in the health sector drawn from Central Kenya counties want allocation to the sector be pegged to at least 30 per cent of the budget for effective handling of various issues in the sector.
The counties, working under Central Region Economic Bloc (CEREB) is also ropping in other players in the sector to address numerous challenges in the health sector which have continued to derail development in the area.
A week ago, the stakeholders met at Lake Naivasha Resort in Nakuru County for a brainstorming session where alongside some potential donors, they laid bare what ought to be done in order to have the region back on its feet.
The session resolved that without addressing the health challenges, it was practically impossible to ever move forward, economically, socially or culturally.
Meeting under the theme of, “Enhancing Healthcare Through Domestic Resources Mobilization”, the stakeholders included, representatives of top county leaderships, CECs in charge of Health and Finance as well some Chief Officers.
They were brought together by various organisations like Central Kenya Development Network (CKDN) which was represented by Ambassador Stephen Karau, Stop TB partnership Kenya through Ms Evalyn Kibuchi, AMREF Health Africa where Gloria Okoko represented Country Director Dr Meshack Ndirangu and KANCO’s Jack Mathenge who acted for CEO Allan Ragi.
They discussed the disease burden in the region noting that it consists mainly of preventable communicable diseases as well a high mortality from non-communicable diseases.
The meeting noted that investment in prevention of Tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and other preventable diseases is low and donor dependent, hence the need to increase domestic financing to cover the funding gap.
Further, it was brought their attention that in the region, Kiambu, Meru and Nakuru counties are among the top ten devolved units that contributes to the national TB morbidity and mortality, with 20,000 deaths occurring last year.
Also raising concern in the session was the fact that majority of counties in CEREB have not benefitted from Global funds for support of strategic health interventions due to lack of collectively working together in areas where oneness with some partners is required. On this issue, they resolved to have a joint pathway for consultation process in accessing the next phase of Global Fund for Strategic Health Interventions, Health systems strengthening and community systems strengthening for improved health service delivery;
Apart from resolving to continually advocate for allocation of 30% of county budget for Healthcare, the forum also made other resolution which include; committing to prioritize and allocate more resources for preventable communicable diseases including Tuberculosis, committing to develop legislation to ensure that funds generated in health facilities are ring-fenced to support Facility Improvement Fund and committing to develop collaborative networks anchored in sectors to propel development agenda in CEREB region and build synergy between various development partners.
During the meeting, Dr Gichuiya N’ Riara, the CEC for Health in Tharaka Nithi County was appointed to be the health sector lead in region.
Among his duties is to guide health delivery in the region, to guide coordination of service delivery, to oversee the uniformity in standards of service delivery in the region and be the central control point in the region’s access to more resources from domestic and global sources including involvement in the Global Fund process.
It was also resolved that Finance CECs would meet within 90 days as Directors of CEREB to make sure there is continuity and that the resolutions reached are fast tracked.
The forum was opened by Meru County Deputy Governor Mutuma M’Ithingia who represented Governor Kawira Mwangaza.
Amb Karau whose CKDN has been coordinating CEREB activities thanked the sponsors for coming on board to assist various activities in the region.
He said that sector-based strategies and exploitation of unique County strengths in Central Region will bring fort synergy and spur economic growth, to support domestic resources for health.
On his part, CEREB Chief Executive Officer Ndirangu Gachunia commended CKDN for providing Technical and administrative support to CEREB which has rejuvenated the Bloc.
He said that the CEREB Finance sector CECs will meet soon to nominate their sector leadership adding that each sector will also nominate a CEC from different counties as Sector lead and lauded Prof Kĩrĩngai, CEC Agriculture Muranga County, who has volunteered to lead the Agriculture sector.
The forum coordinator,
Dr Michael Mugo, the CKDN Technical Director while thanking CEREB leadership and stakeholders for joining them said he was optimistic that going forward the region was headed for better things.
CEREB which is formed from Nyandarua, Nyeri, Murang’a, Kiambu, Meru, Kirinyaga, Tharaka- Nithi, Laikipia, Nakuru and Embu counties has been lagging behind compared to other regional blocks in the country.
But with new leadership under the chairmanship of Nyeri County Governor Mutahi Kahiga and donors support, it is expected to rise to the occasion and address various issues for the benefit of the locals, visitors and investors.
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