May, 11, 2023.
His Excellency Governor Amos Nyaribo today flagged off drugs worth Sh22m to cushion shortages in hospitals in Nyamira County.
The drugs were part of consignments of drugs procured by the County Government worth Sh37m.
The remaining drugs costing Sh15m, the governor said, will be delivered within this month.
The Governor disclosed that soon the County Referral hospital will be made semi-autonomous in a bid to improve it’s service delivery to patients.
“We have already send a bill to our County Assembly to make Nyamira Referral hospital Semi-autonomous. Once it’s passed, the hospital will have its own management. As Government, our work will ensure that the fees charged on patients will be much lower than what’s paid in private health facilities,” Mr Nyaribo said.
He added: “Our referral hospital, for example, will be selling a drug costing Sh300 by private chemists at Sh100 to make services at the facility more affordable.”
Mr Nyaribo instructed Executive Committee Member for Health Dr Timothy Ombati to ensure that the semi-autonomy processes of the hospital is effected by January next year.
The governor who was speaking at the County headquarters before flagging off the drugs said his Government had allowed Management of all health facilities to utilize monies collected within their hospitals to improve service deliveries in their establishment.
At the same time, the Governor asked residents of Nyamira and Kisii Counties to give court time to decide over the boundary dispute in Keroka town.
“Kisii County is our brother and we will remain strong if we continue being united as family. Let the boundary dispute not decide us,” he noted.
He said Gusii residents are one and much will be achieved if they remained united.
“Ignore those who incite you to violence over Keroka dispute boundary. We are one with our neighbour,” he said.
Dr Ombati thanked the Governor for allocating Sh35m to pay health casuals their salary arrears.
“As a department, we are also happy with renovation works that is on going at referral hospital,” Dr Ombati said.
He also appreciated the upgrading of Keroka level four hospital with modern facilities, saying it only required more medical staff to offer best services.
(By Governor’s Press Services)