Cabinet Secretary for Health, Dr. Deborah Mulongo Barasa, led a high-level engagement with Bungoma County leaders and health stakeholders, reaffirming the Ministry’s commitment to improving health service delivery and accelerating Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
Top on the agenda was the rollout of the Social Health Insurance (SHA), with Dr. Barasa urging local leaders to boost registration efforts. So far, 29% of the county’s population has been enrolled. She confirmed that county facilities are already contracted under SHA and pledged further support in training, accreditation, and public awareness.
The Ministry also committed to equipping the Mother & Child Hospital at Bungoma County Referral Hospital, finalizing medical oxygen piping, and prioritizing the facility under the NESP program. Dr. Barasa acknowledged Bungoma’s proposal to upgrade Misikhu Hospital, noting it is under review, and pledged support for the planned cancer center in the region.
She emphasized reforms at KEMSA to improve medicine supply and addressed staffing gaps by promising support in deploying specialists and absorbing UHC staff. On Community Health Promoters, the Cabinet Secretary reaffirmed continued stipends and career development support under Taifa Care.
Dr. Barasa praised Bungoma’s leadership and reiterated the Ministry’s readiness to work hand-in-hand with counties to transform healthcare delivery across the country. In attendance were Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Moses Wetang’ula, Bungoma County Governor Kenneth Lusaka, and senior officials in the county, and development partners.
The meeting underscored the Ministry’s vision to ensure all citizens have access to quality and affordable healthcare. Key discussions revolved around improving the efficiency of county health facilities, strengthening referral systems, and ensuring that residents benefit from government-supported healthcare programs.
As part of the engagement, Dr. Barasa encouraged county officials to enhance health data management to monitor patient care and service delivery effectively. The Ministry pledged support in implementing digital health records to improve efficiency in hospitals.
The need for sustainable financing for healthcare services was also a major discussion point. The Cabinet Secretary assured stakeholders that the government remains committed to increasing budget allocations for health and exploring partnerships with development agencies to strengthen resources available for healthcare provision.
She also highlighted the role of preventive healthcare, urging county leaders to promote immunization, nutrition programs, and disease surveillance. By strengthening preventive measures, the Ministry aims to reduce the burden of diseases and ease pressure on healthcare facilities.
Dr. Barasa further noted the importance of community participation in health programs and encouraged residents to take advantage of government-funded initiatives. She called on local leaders to engage communities in health awareness campaigns to improve enrollment in health insurance schemes and encourage early disease detection and treatment.
The discussions also touched on the integration of traditional and modern medicine, with the Ministry looking into ways to support research and documentation of traditional healthcare practices to complement conventional medical treatments.
With the commitment from both national and county governments, the engagement in Bungoma marked a significant step toward achieving Universal Health Coverage. Dr. Barasa assured continued collaboration, investment, and policy implementation to ensure every citizen benefits from an efficient and well-equipped healthcare system. The session ended with a collective commitment to work towards sustainable health reforms that will improve the well-being of Bungoma County residents and beyond.
