Reduced health funding hampering health care services in Machakos

The stoppage of Sh1 billion health care funding to Machakos County under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) has posed a major challenge on the delivery of health care services in the County.

A further reduction of funding to the tune of Sh370 million will worsen the situation, Machakos Deputy Governor Francis Mwangangi has said.

The County used to receive Sh1 billion under the World Bank-funded UHC during the tenure of former Governor Alfred Mutua which has since stopped, leaving a gap in health care funding.

Mr Mwangangi said the National Government had not prioritised health care funding and a further reduction in funding to the critical department will worsen the situation.

Speaking during a burial ceremony in Katelembu village, Machakos on Monday, the Deputy Governor expressed dismay at Members of Parliament especially from Machakos County who were silent as the health budget was being reduced.

"We have a challenge in our hospitals.We will still have the same challenge as long as the National Government does not respect and implement devolution the way it should,"said Mr Mwangangi.

He said there were proposals to further cut the health budget.

"As we talk,almost Sh370 million will be cut from the National budget and we have MPs who are not speaking up to defend the Mwananchi who will suffer when the budget is cut," said Mr Mwangangi.

He also urged leaders from the Kamba community to speak in one voice and oppose unfair taxation that was hurting the people.

Mr Mwangangi pointed out the Affordable Housing tax which he said was not beneficial to the people.

Mua Ward MCA Francis Ngunga and his Kalama Ward counterpart Boniface Maeke called for unity among leaders in order to realise development in the region and in order to have a say in the political direction of the country in the next General Election.