Governor Waiguru sets up Gender Based Violence desks as MCAs laud reforms in Hospitals
Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has set up Gender Based Violence (GBV) desks in all public health facilities so as to fast-track help for those in need. The desks will be manned by GBV champions who have been trained to deal with the cases.
The governor has further promised to extend supply of free sanitary towels to school girls and young mothers. Speaking when she represented the governor during event to mark the International Women’s Day at Kerugoya County Referral Hospital, County Executive Committee Member for Gender and Youth Millicent Nyawira asked women in distress to visit the desks for help when in need. She said the county government was working with the players in the justice system to speed up resolution of GBV cases. “We are encouraging women to make use of the GBV desks whenever they have an issue so that they can get assistance before it is too late,” she said.
Nyawira said last year, her department distributed about 28,000 sanitary towels to school girls and young mothers. She said the sanitary towels initiative will help school girls remain in class. “This initiative by governor Waiguru ensured those in school remain in class and by so doing we empowered them to succeed in their education. When women succeed, the entire community succeeds,” she said. The CEC asked the society to take the lead in embracing equity and to give each woman a chance at whatever opportunity arises. During the event, women admitted at the facility received gift hampers from the governor.
At the same time, the County Assembly Committee on Medical Service, Public Health and Sanitation has commended ongoing reforms at public health facilities in Kirinyaga. Speaking during a visit at the Kerugoya County Referral Hospital, committee chairman Dr. Isaiah Mbogo said the hospital has adequate supply of drugs and food for patients. Dr. Mbogo said thanked management of the facility for ongoing reforms at the medical facility especially the roll out of the Health Management Information System (HMIS) in all service points in the medical facilities so as to complete the patients’ treatment chain. “We have gone round the hospital and are content with what we have seen. We have adequate supply of drugs, the wards are clean, the staff is friendly and there is enough provision of clean and nutritious food for the patients,” the Kabare ward MCA said.
HMIS is helping public hospitals in Kirinyaga county address issue of drug shortage by providing real- time information on stock out. The system which has been on piloted at the referral hospital has helped in ensuring the medical facility has adequate supply of medicine around the clock. “We have seen the transformation in our health facilities and we want to reiterate our support to our governor to continue on this trajectory,” the MCA added.
The County Executive Committee Member for Medical Services, Public Health and Sanitation George Karoki said the ongoing reforms at the medical facilities had improved service delivery leading to increased number of patients seeking treatment in the public facilitation. Karoki said the ongoing reforms in medical service delivery to the people will continue so as to ensure that healthcare is accessible and affordable to all. He said that the upcoming Kerugoya Medical Complex will be a game changer in the
way healthcare is delivered in the entire Mt. Kenya region. “The Medical Complex is almost complete and will be up and running in the next few months. It is going to transform healthcare not just in Kirinyaga County but also within the region. It will be the benchmark of healthcare around Mt. Kenya region,” said Karoki.
