Health reforms taskforce was created to review operations of county hospitals
The Nairobi County government has released a health reforms taskforce report themed ‘Reduce health burden’.
The taskforce was mandated to review and analyze equipment, medicine and operations in county hospitals and health facilities and give recommendations on how to improve service delivery and ensure better health for Nairobi residents.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, speaking during the launch on Thursday, observed that change is inevitable. He further stated that he would like the capital to be a city of order comparable to world class cities such as New York and Singapore.
Sakaja stated that one of the key mandates of the taskforce was to give recommendations on ways to reorganize the implementation of health service delivery in Nairobi County to enhance public health.
AMREF Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr Githinji Gitahi who was present during the occasion observed that health issues are largely dominated by maternal and child services which, if improved, the needs of the majority of residents’ will be catered for.
The task force recommended a documented referral system to support primary health care. They also recommended a working emergency service to manage emergencies like accidents and heart attacks.
Additionally, the taskforce recommended that the county should have an enabled operational primary health care service, including proper sanitation, provision of clean water and litter collection.
The report also recommends reduction of the disease burden by focusing on reorganizing and reviewing hygienic services and maintaining a sound environmental health and having a legal framework to enforce it.
According to the taskforce report, Nairobi has a population of 4.3 million people with the highest disease burdens being pneumonia, coughing and diarrhoea.
The task force applauded the Nairobi governor for paying volunteer community health workers.
Members of the taskforce include Prof Olive Mugenda (chairlady), Dr Mercy Mwangangi, Dr Anastacia Nyalita, Dr Githinji Gitahi, Ms Dorcas Kemunto, Ms Karei Mwenda, and Dr William Charles Fryda.
Source: MY Gov