Mombasa County Government has hired 140 healthcare workers who were working under different USAID programs in the county in response to the USAID stop order.
Speaking during the flagging off of the distribution of essential medical supplies to public health facilities across the county, Mombasa Governor Abdullswamad Sheriff Nassir said the move will ensure the continuity of critical services to the people.
“People will not die because the funder has withdrawn funding, we will look for that money one way or another and we will absorb and hire the health practitioners that need to be hired,” said Governor Nassir.
The Mombasa Governor cautioned against tying human resource to funding, saying that it was a big mistake.
“If someone wants to help us, tell them to build us something, not hire people then fire them at will,” said Nassir.
“The people who are suffering right now are HIV patients, other people who are also going to suffer if we do not take action are people suffering from Tuberculosis and other ailments,” he added.
The County plans to map out those affected, the governor encouraged those who were working with the different USAID programs to equally apply.
The governor flagged off the distribution of essential medical supplies worth sh.70 million from Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital to public health facilities across Mombasa.
In his address, the county chief said the county will install CCTV cameras at the Coast General Hospital to ensure better patient services.
“We acknowledge the challenges that have affected service delivery at our main referral hospital, but today marks the beginning of its reform. To ensure real change, I will personally be monitoring the hospital’s performance and working closely with the team to improve service delivery,” said Governor Nassir.
Mombasa County Health CEC Dr. Swabah Omar said the medical supplies will be distributed to level two and three facilities across the county.
“In the last two years, we have spent almost sh.130 million on medical commodities. Coast General alone, we have spent over sh.400 million from their own provisions. We can see it as a testament to the commitment from the Department of Health,” said Dr. Swabah.
“In summary, we have spent over sh.700 million on health commodities in the last two years for the facilities, all coming from the county revenue,” she added.