As Kenya grapples with rising drug shortage in public hospitals, a regional government west of the East African country says it has purchased and disbursed drugs to public health facilities valued at Ksh50 million ($384,750).

However, Kakamega County Governor Fernandez Barasa decried theft of drugs and other equipment by hospital staff, warning that the offenders risked legal action, besides being sacked if smoked out.

The supplies of drugs was greeted with excitement as other parts of the country faced shortages blamed on the delayed or late disbursement of devolved funds.

The consignment that was flagged off in Malava Sub-County headquarters will be delivered to all the 181 health facilities in the 12 sub-counties in the county.

While presiding over the launch, Governor Fernandez Barasa warned health officials involved in drugs and other medical supplies racketeering that they would apprehended and arraigned in court. Besides, he warned, they risked being sacked.

Barasa revealed that he had received reports of how drugs are stolen from public hospital and health centres and sold to private health facilities.

“We are aware that we have some health officials who collude with private clinics and chemists where they also serve or are the owners by proxy and steal our supplies to stock their facilities and refer patients to those facilities to purchase the prescribed drugs. We will be doing our impromptu searches and if we find any private facility stocking our drugs and other supplies, they will together with the health official who sold them the drugs face the full force of the law,” he warned.

Barasa also announced that there should be no shortage of drugs in the Level Two and three health facilities as the county plans to restock them every three months. He said the launch was purposely meant to create public awareness that the regional government had supplied and stocked each dispensary ward level in the county, hence they should not be referred to private health facilities to purchase drugs.

The governor asked local residents to raise alarm if they find out that the county drugs are being peddled by health-workers in government hospitals and dispensaries.

“Please my good people assist me to manage our health facilities well. I urge you to report to any county office involved in any shady dealings in our hospitals and those rogue medical officials involved in any form of malpractice as far as drugs and other medical supplies are concerned. Please report to me, as we are committed to streamlining the health sector to benefit all residents through public funds,” said Barasa.

He also urged the residents to register for Taifa Care (SHA) as it was now working and catering for their medical needs.

“We have been receiving requests of over Ksh5 million ($38,475) waiver from patients who are unable to settle their medical bills seeking our assistance, but with them being registered on social health authority scheme, they will have their bills settled between 60 per cent and 70 per cent,” he made the assurance.

The 12 sub-county level Two and Three health facilities to benefit from the supplies include Malava 25, Lugari16, Ikolomani13, Navakholo12, Shinyalu19, Lurambi19, Mumias East 12, Mumias West 9, Khwisero 15 and Matungu 11.

The governor drummed up support for his Barasa Care health initiative that helps cash-strapped pregnant women.

He observed that his medical programme was up and running and pregnant women should register to benefit from the Fernandez Barasa Foundation, which gives out Ksh12,000 ($92.34) to pregnant women for antenatal to postnatal period, spread out at Ksh2,000 ($15.39) per stage.

He said the monies was meant to boast nutrition of both the baby and mother during the lactation period.

He highlighted that the construction of more health facilities has already been advertised across the county and soon works will commence, with Malava having Mahusi in Butali Chegulo ward, and Shikutse dispensary in West Kabras being constructed at the cost of Ksh14 million ($107,730). 

On the selection of the Malava municipality board the advertisement of the members will get underway soon and this will transform the sub county to higher level of urban settlements management, since the county public service board has already been constituted.

He agreed to the Mugai-Shirugu ward MCA Peter Wanami to request to reinstate the transferred Malava surgeon and paediatrician, who had been moved from Malava Level 4 Hospital.

The county chief executive unveiled plans to register 4,250 volunteer health promoters (VHP) on SHA cover as an appreciation to their continued good work in health matters at the grassroots, saying this would enable them to live healthily and fit to offer service to the public.

• A Tell Media report / By Isaiah Wakhungu Andanje