- The event marked a significant milestone in streamlining the drug distribution process, ensuring that essential medications reach their intended destinations efficiently.
- After the medical supplies flagging off event, the governor proceeded to launch education bursaries set to benefit a large number of students from low-income families.
- A total of KSh145 million will be awarded to different qualifying students from the county’s 45 wards.
Maintaining strict control over medication management within hospitals is a critical aspect of ensuring patient safety and promoting effective healthcare practices.
The flagging off of medical supplies by Simba Arati, Kisii County Governor, to different constituencies took place on June 23, 2023, at the Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital (KTRH).
According to Mrs. Leah Ogega, CEC Medical Services, Public Health and Sanitation, Kisii County has a population of 1.4 million people, with 173 medical facilities to serve them, though only 161 are currently functional.
According to Mrs. Ogega, the financial requirement for the county’s medical drugs is KSh364,923,897.
The current gap is KSh264 million, which is a 76 percent deficit.
“What we are receiving today is the supply of what KEMSA was not able to supply; that is, pharmaceutical drugs costing KSh10 milion non-pharmaceutical drugs worth KSh4.2 million and laboratory reagents worth KSh3.5 million,” she said.
She also urged the governor to consider the large deficit in the health sector and see what should be done to bridge it.
In a determined effort to enhance the distribution of drugs to different sub-counties in Kisii County, Governor Arati spearheaded a momentous flagging-off event at KTRH.
The event marked a significant milestone in streamlining the drug distribution process, ensuring that essential medications reach their intended destinations efficiently.
Arati aimed to underscore the importance of transparent and accountable drug distribution by bringing together key stakeholders and utilizing the flagging-off ceremony.
The flagging-off event highlights the essence of optimizing drug allocation processes at KTRH and ultimately improving healthcare services across various sub-counties in the county.
The governor said that they took an oath that they will make sure there must be drugs in all county hospital facilities.
“Indeed, over time now we are realizing it slowly; we are trying to make sure we have drugs in those facilities,” said the governor.
He urged the procurement officers to ensure there are Antivenom serums for treating patients affected by snake venom.
Doctors appreciated
The governor appreciated the doctors for the good work that they are doing and the strategies they have put in place to save lives.
“I am going to support any medical officer who is doing a good job; we are going to help the doctors to make sure we have delivered to our people,” promised the governor.
The governor also appreciated the KTRH management for moving the hospital’s revenue from KSh67 million to KSh150 million.
The governor informed the suppliers at sub-county levels 2, 3, and 4 that they will be retained and arrangements are in place to ensure they have been paid.
He directed those in charge of payment to ensure that they can account for anything they pay for.
Exchange program
Through a partnership with the UK government through the Kenya UK Health Alliance (KUKHA) signed in London last year, Kisii County recently received ten medical students set to engage in an exchange program in the county’s health facilities for a month.
The UK government sent them through Manchester University for an exchange program.
“With the help of the UK government through Manchester University, we are turning around our ambulances to mini-hospitals,” said the governor.
Some 24 medical personnel at KTRH are under training on ambulatory services by a Machester University professor.
Into education circles
After the medical supplies flagging off event, the governor proceeded to launch education bursaries set to benefit a large number of students from low-income families.
Access to quality education has long been recognized as a key driver of social mobility and personal growth.
The bursary aims to provide financial support and opportunities to deserving students across the county who face financial constraints.
By offering financial relief, the bursary program aims to empower students from diverse backgrounds to pursue their educational aspirations without the burden of financial limitations.
The event was also graced by several members of the county assembly (MCAs), the speaker of the county, bursary board members, county executive members, students, and other guests.
“It is an exciting moment that today we have gotten the opportunity to launch officially and disburse money for bursaries to school which is in the plans and arrangement of the county government known as county bursary fund,” said the governor.
A total of KSh145 million will be awarded to different qualifying students from the county’s 45 wards.
“In the county bursary, each ward has been allocated an average of KSh3 milion,” explained Governor Arati.
Previously halted
The program has not been available for the past few years as the allocated funds were redirected to other programs.
Through the 2023 supplementary budget, the county government reinstated the bursary program to allow students from needy families to receive quality education and shape their future.
The governor thanked the MCAs for approving the budget in the supplementary session.
“This is a quite fulfilling feat given the level of suffering students from needy backgrounds undergo in affording their educational needs,” he said.
How it’ll be done
To ensure transparency and prevent corruption in the bursary disbursement process, the funds will be directly transferred to the school accounts of eligible students.
No physical cheques will be involved to eliminate the possibility of selling them.
MCAs will have access to a comprehensive list of students set to benefit from the program in their respective wards.
They will issue vouchers to the students, approved by the county government and the MCA.
These vouchers will be presented to the school bursars, who will provide receipts to confirm the funds have been received.
“Indeed, education is a worthy equalizer that enables everyone to scale the social-economic ladder,” said the governor.
He encouraged the students to diligently pursue their studies and achieve good results in their exams, as it would prove that the bursary assistance had been valuable to them.
Arati challenged the benefiting students to work hard and post impressive academic performance as that is the only way they can realize the value of the bursary program.
Committed to serve
According to him, the county is committed to ensuring that no student is deprived of education due to a lack of school fees.
The governor said that to uplift the education sector in the county, they have seen it appropriate to provide early childhood teachers with permanent contracts as soon as the County Service Board is formed.
Kisii County Government also aims to revive vocational institutions to offer practical training that would empower young people to self-sustain their lives.
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“I appreciate the bursary committee, the parents, county employees and everyone who came together to ensure this scholarship has been fulfilled,” Arati appreciated.
