The Kakamega government is to sign an MoU with an Indian hospital for cancer diagnostic equipment and doctors’ exchange programmes.
On Tuesday, Governor Wycliffe Oparanya said Apollo Hospital, New Delhi, will send specialists to treat cancer patients at the new Kakamega County Teaching and Referral Hospital.
The 750-bed facility will cost Sh6 billion by the time it is completed next year.
“Cancer is alarmingly common in Kakamega and late diagnosis complicates treatment and the healing process, leading to unnecessary loss of life,” Oparanya said at Eshisiru centre, Lurambi sub county.
Late last month, the governor said his administration would seek Sh2 billion from international investors and the national government to equip the hospital.
Part of the money would be spent on equipping two new Level 4 hospitals in Mumias town and Shamakhubu in Shinyalu.
President Uhuru Kenyatta, Health CS Sicily Kariuki and Deputy President William Ruto during a tour of the Kakamega County Referral Hospital on October 20, 2018.
Image: PSCU
“The state-of-the-art facility will provide comprehensive healthcare besides promoting health tourism. We have engaged international partners and the donor community to fast-track its completion. Phase 1 will be equipped and commissioned soon,” Oparanya said.
Heart and kidney ailments, as well as diabetes, are also on the list of the most prevalent diseases in Western.
Meanwhile, the county has devolved its functions to the grassroots. It has set up a three-tier governance structure. Kakamega now has community area administrators, ward administrators and sub county administrators. It is the first county to establish community areas.
We’ll finalise the process by establishing community area councils. We’ll be looking for 20 professionals from each community area to serve in the water, health, environment and natural resources, education, and infrastructure sector councils.
Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya
On Tuesday, Oparanya installed community administrators in Ikolomani and Lurambi sub counties. The county has 400 community administrators.
The councils will assist the community areas to develop administrative capacity in carrying out functions and promoting public participation in governance at the local level. They will monitor the implementation of policies at the community level.
Last month, administrators complained about lack of clarity in their terms of service.
They accused the county government of withdrawing their salaries for six months without explanation.
The officials said they were issued with letters of appointment on June 29 last year, indicating that their employment would take effect on July 1, two days later.
They were later asked to surrender the letters and were issued with fresh letters of appointment on December 31, indicating their employment would take effect on January 1.
They complained that though the basic salaries in the two sets of letters remained the same at Sh 19,770, the advertisement for the job indicated a basic salary of Sh28,000 and other allowances, bringing the monthly gross salary to Sh35,000.