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{
    "id": 1034756,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1034756/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 234,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Muranga CWR, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. (Ms.) Sabina Chege",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 884,
        "legal_name": "Sabina Wanjiru Chege",
        "slug": "sabina-wanjiru-chege"
    },
    "content": "The submissions made by the Ministry of Health on allocation and expenditure were in line with approved 2019/2020 Budget appropriated funds for the Ministry of Health towards COVID- 19 response. The funds were appropriated and approved during the 2019 Supplementary Estimate II and III. Most of the funds disbursed to various SAGAS by the time we were tabling this Report, the Ministry of Health had not yet been utilised especially funds that were earmarked for infrastructural improvement and purchase of medical equipment. The funds were approved towards the end of the financial year under the Supplementary Budget II and III coupled by delays in Ex-Chequer release by the National Treasury. However, the procurement process had started and was ongoing. In the physical inspection to some institutions by the Committee, it was noted that various donations and purchases for COVID-19 were not being utilised. For instance, Kenyatta University Hospital had procured its own ten ventilators. The national Government had also given them 15 ventilators. However, these ventilators were not in use by that time and they were in the process of constructing additional ICU beds which were to take care of around 40 extra ICU beds. Currently, KU has 24 beds. Referral health facilities, KEMRI and health facilities under county governments have utilised the funds earmarked for allowances for the frontline health workers for three months as per the SRC guidelines. The Committee further observed that other cadres of staff who play a critical role in operation of health facilities did not receive their allowances hence occasioning disquiet amongst staff. Hon. Speaker, we noted that the recruitment of the health staff was and is still ongoing even now and that the health institutions mainly engaged contractual staff for three months only, which had already lapsed. However, the contracted health staff were still working in hospitals due to the surge of COVID-19. Further noting that the COVID-19 Pandemic still pauses a threat to the country coupled with the fact that the health facilities persistently face health human resources challenges, the services of these contracted health works are still required. All the Semi- Autonomous Government Agencies except KEMSA utilised the funds disbursed by the Ministry of Health in the Year 2019/2020. The KEMSA received funds from the Ministry of Health and also used its reserves for procurement of PPEs."
}