The Senate Committee for County Public Investments and Special Funds has urged the County Government of Nakuru to channel more resources towards facilitating effective, preventive healthcare.
Committee chairperson Godfrey Osotsi said early investments in effective preventive health care strategies enhance good population health, reduces morbidity and mortality, including those from lifelong chronic illnesses and save resources in both health care and social services.
Osotsi stated that the devolved unit should deepen partnerships with the national government, the private sector and development partners to ensure primary health care is given priority and promoted to curb many challenges facing the health sector in terms of curative healthcare.
The senator said for Kenya to realize universal healthcare, more resources were needed to be channeled to support primary healthcare adding that as the Senate they were working to ensure counties get increased budgetary allocation to fund promotional and preventive health care.
He observed that increasing investments in preventive health care potentially free up resources for health services by reducing avoidable health problems thus saving resources that can be re-ploughed in prevention, care, treatment and rehabilitation services.
Speaking at the Nakuru County Teaching and Referral Hospital after the committee inspected the facility, Senator Osotsi lauded Governor Susan Kihika’s administration for the progress made in improving healthcare services for the residents.
He indicated that the Senate was actively pushing for fully equipped, modern hospitals across all 47 counties to achieve Universal Health Coverage adding that they were emphasizing infrastructure development, specialized medical devices, and elimination of persistent drug and staffing shortages at local health facilities.
Osotsi observed that to bridge specialized health care gaps, the Ministry of Health and the Council of Governors were rolling out the National Equipment Service Scheme (NESP) an initiative targeting hundreds of hospitals nationwide to provide dialysis machines and imaging technology, digital X-ray systems, Ultrasound machines, and CT scanners and fully upgraded laboratory and theater systems.
The National Equipment Service Programme (NESP) rollout has so far delivered specialized medical equipment worth over Sh7.3 billion to 213 health facilities across 43 counties.
The committee chairperson was happy that the County Government of Nakuru was performing well in health service delivery despite a few challenges but urged continued focus on all facilities across the county.
He urged the governor, hospital leadership and other related departments within the County, to be keen on all hospitals beyond the referral facility saying the situation at the referral was generally okay, despite staff challenges and advised that health workers should be promoted as required by law to boost motivation.
Senator Osotsi acknowledged that the hospital was equipped with advanced diagnostic equipment, including the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanner, Computed Tomography (CT) scanner, and X-ray machines but emphasized the urgency of the acquisition of additional backup equipment to ensure continuity of services in the event of mechanical breakdowns.
He at the same time pointed out that public assets must be safeguarded through proper documentation adding that without title deeds and updated registers, critical health infrastructure could be exposed to legal and financial risk.
Nakuru Deputy Governor Dr David Kones assured that the devolved unit’s leadership had put in place structures and policies that enhance the impact of public expenditure on health by establishing direct link between the funding for health care and delivering health services of the defined quantity and quality, especially high impact interventions for accelerating the attainment of health goals.
He said the devolved unit had through public-private partnerships rolled out several initiatives focusing on closing gaps in health service delivery.
Deputy Governor added that, the County has continued to allocate a lion’s share of resources to the Health Sector with the Department receiving over Sh6 billion allocation in the current financial year.
He indicated that Primary Health Care Networks (PCN) have enhanced healthcare quality, accessibility and delivery across the region with the devolved unit reporting substantial progress in operationalizing Primary Health Care Networks (PCNs).
Kones stated that these networks, aimed at bolstering the country’s healthcare infrastructure, are pivotal in achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and ensuring comprehensive health services to all residents.
The devolved unit has already operationalized 16 Primary Care Networks (PCN) in a move aimed at improving access to drugs and health care services.
Primary Care Networks are local organizations set up to improve patient care in their regions and make primary healthcare more efficient and effective. it is a strategic approach developed by the national government to establish connections between health facilities and the community.
This initiative, driven by the national government in collaboration with counties and development partners, aims to revolutionize healthcare delivery by establishing Primary Care Networks in all 47 devolved units.
Primary Care Networks emphasizes integrated, comprehensive, continuous and coordinated care focusing on health promotion, disease prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and palliative care.
This initiative he added is greatly benefiting Nakuru residents by ensuring consistent access to necessary healthcare, improving patient support, and enhancing overall community health.
Senate Committee for County Public Investments and Special Funds also inspected other public utilities including the Menengai Green Space, a recreational facility within Nakuru City; NAWASSCOAL, a county-owned enterprise that manufactures eco-friendly fuel briquettes and other commercial products entirely from recycled waste materials; and the Nakuru Rural Water and Sanitation Company Limited (NARUWASCO).
Earlier the Senate Committee had paid a courtesy call to Governor Kihika where she lauded its oversight role, reaffirming her administration’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and improved service delivery.
Kihika noted that despite Nakuru being a water-scarce county, investments in boreholes had significantly improved access to clean and safe drinking water, with coverage now standing at 63 per cent.
She further observed that the Nakuru Water and Sanitation Services Company (NAWASSCO) had recently been ranked the best-performing water service provider in the country.
Kihika said the county had made notable progress in enhancing service delivery across health facilities through improved efficiency and expansion of specialized medical services. She cited the establishment of an optical laboratory at the Nakuru Teaching and Referral Hospital as one of the key milestones aimed at improving access to specialized care.
The Governor expressed optimism that the committee’s findings and recommendations would further strengthen public service delivery in the county.
By Esther Mwangi and Carol Nyakio
