Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 239025,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/239025/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 185,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mrs. Ngilu",
    "speaker_title": "The Minister for Health",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 111,
        "legal_name": "Charity Kaluki Ngilu",
        "slug": "charity-ngilu"
    },
    "content": "to buy simple equipment like microscopes in your health facilities. That is not the case today. Last year, we spent close to Kshs720 million to procure equipment. It has been sent to the rural health facilities, especially dispensaries and health centres. This year, we are going to spend about Kshs1 billion to procure more equipment. So, our health facilities will be equipped. We have started to procure specialised equipment. We have started with our teaching and referral hospitals like Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital. We shall go on to procure specialised equipment for provincial and district hospitals. We are doing that in stages, as more resources become available in the Ministry. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, we have talked about ambulances. We have bought more ambulances than ever before. I do know that there is need for ambulances in our health facilities. I am asking the Permanent Secretary to ensure that some of the ambulances that we have sent out have drivers. Some of them do not have drivers. We are also going to get another 115 ambulances October 17, 2006 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 2963 between now and December. The NHIF has agreed to purchase them. They will be sent to our public health facilities. At least, all the provincial, referral and district hospitals will get ambulances. A total of 15 ambulances will be given to faith-based mission hospitals because they are part and parcel of our work. We partner with them in what we do. That is how we will distribute the ambulances when they come. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I have also noted the complaints by hon. Members about how patients are treated. Yes, it is true. We have put in place measures to re-train our health workers to change their attitudes towards our patients. Mr. Raila talked about our Spinal Injury Unit. At the moment, we have set aside some Kshs30 million for that unit. I agree it is not enough, but I will see what I can do. I understand the feelings of the hon. Member. Those are the people we need to look after first. Thank you for visiting them. One other thing that came out is the issue of herbal drugs. We partner with those herbalists, so that we can know what they are making and selling to our people. They should meet certain standards. Towards that end, we have put up a pharmacy division to work with them. They ensure that people are given drugs that have been tested and approved. That is because anybody can give people anything. We hear of all sorts of \"doctors\", and nobody questions them. They do not belong to the Ministry of Health. We cannot control them because they are registered by the Ministry of Gender, Sports, Culture and Social Services. I think I have taken into account most of the issues that you have raised. I, once again, thank you for supporting our Vote and for the contribution that you have made on the Floor of this House. I thank you very much."
}