Use Sh1b UHC funds to hire more medics, ministry told
George Kebaso @Morarak
President Uhuru Kenyatta has directed the Health ministry to appropriate Sh1 billion from the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) kitty to recruit additional health workers.
He ordered ministry, the County governments and the Public Service Commission (PSC) to expedite the recruitment process to tame further spread of the coronavirus in the country.
“On behalf of a grateful nation, I extend our eternal gratitude to our medical professionals and health workers for their exemplary work that is the backbone of our continuing successes in limiting Covid-19 within our borders,” the President said in his address to the nation yesterday.
The recruitment would be additional effort towards the recent sensitisation of more than 600 health workers at the points of entry in the country on how to deal with suspected cases.
Honour medics
The government has also deployed more health workers at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to help in the screening and isolation of suspected cases.
The Head of State said to honour the health workers, it is incumbent on every Kenyan to support their efforts by limiting movement and congregating in large groups.
He reiterated that the most effective way to limit the spread of the virus is through basic changes in individual behaviour and hygiene.
“I, therefore, once more call on everyone to wash hands frequently...cover our nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing,” said the President.
“By following these measures, it will allow our healthcare system and our first responders to most effectively deal with the pandemic,” he added.
The President also announced the re-organisation of the ordinary calendar of Cabinet, its committees and key State Agencies so as to apply a whole-of-government response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and to foster enhanced responses to the same.
“We have further introduced close co-ordination and collaboration with the county governments; in addition to the establishment of sectoral working groups to more effectively and expeditiously implement action-points,” he said.
