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{
    "id": 1267968,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1267968/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 183,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Cherarkey",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13217,
        "legal_name": "Cherarkey K Samson",
        "slug": "cherarkey-k-samson"
    },
    "content": "Kamar has said, the issue of poverty looks at the dimension of the people. One agenda is that there should be no poverty across the country or the Globe. Secondly, we should have zero hunger. It is sad that in this day and time, some Kenyans have at this time come from a very serious drought in Africa and even across the World. Then we have good health. I am happy that the Government through the plan of His Excellency the President and the Government wants to roll out Universal Health Coverage (UHC) to ensure that every Kenyan has access to medical health. This is under those SDGs. The Government, on the issue of the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), wants to ensure that people, who do not at least earn, pay NHIF based on the earnings and the rationalization. An ordinary Kenyan, a Mama mboga, or a Boda Boda rider will pay less for an NHIF card. However, you and I who are salaried should pay more to cover the others. The issue of health and well-being is very important. I hope it includes also the issue of reproductive health and nutrition for children who are still facing a lot of challenges on access to health. Article 43 has put it very well that access to health is one of the critical issues. Health is one of the critical issues. I want to thank the President through the manifesto in the plan that one of the factors that has been given attention is the issue of access to Universal Health Coverage across counties. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, while we agree that health has been devolved, there is still a big role that counties play. You served in the ‘Lower House’ before. The role of the National Government has been to develop the health policy. That is why when we want the National Government to partner with counties in terms of providing medical healthcare, it is very important that counties take their rightful position. I come from a county where the issue of healthcare has become a challenge. Healthcare is on its knees. When you go to Kapsabet County Referral Hospital, there are no drugs. The services are very poor. That is why the biggest question that many Kenyans continue to ask is: should we roll back? Should we bring back health to be a national Government function? It is a question that many Kenyans continue to ask. If it is not providing sufficient services of health, for example, in Busia or Kakamega or Nandi counties, what should be the role of the National Government, yet the health function has been devolved? We need to be honest. I have seen counties where when they are allocating money for health in their budget, they put a certain amount of money, then when they think health is not very important, they pull back the resources from that account and take it to the other functions like roads, emergency services and what we call disaster management. We must be honest with ourselves. Health continues to be a challenge especially in our counties. Counties must take their rightful position in providing health. Where I come from, Nandi County, we are still performing very poorly in terms of service provision. There are no drugs. I am happy that the Public Service Commission has renewed contracts of Universal Health Coverage. The The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard Services,Senate."
}