Entry Instance

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

{
    "id": 246172,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/246172/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 239,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Dr. Kibunguchy",
    "speaker_title": "The Assistant Minister for Health",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 294,
        "legal_name": "Enoch Wamalwa Kibunguchy",
        "slug": "enoch-kibunguchy"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir. I also stand to support this Motion and say one or two things. First, the other day when I was contributing on the Budget Speech, I congratulated the Minister for Finance for having not factored in donor money in the Budget. However, on second thought and when I saw what is happening in my Ministry, I would like to say the following:- Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, although many people have complained about the shortage of staff in the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Finance has not been very fair to us. They have not given us finances to employ staff. I say this with a heavy heart because I am in the Government. However, if you look at the jobs that we have advertised, you will see that we have reached out to donors, the USAID and Clinton Foundation. Those are the ones who are assisting us to employ health workers. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, we cannot expect to reverse the trend in terms of health care in this country unless we employ enough health workers. We must employ more nurses 1586 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES June 22, 2006 and post them countrywide. We must also pay them well and give them incentives to work in the most remote areas of this country. We will engage the Ministry of Finance more, so that it allocates more funds to the Ministry of Health. As much as we are happy that the Budget has given the Ministry of Health more money this time, it is not enough. We will use this money and ask the Ministry of Finance to give us more money to enable us employ more health workers. The other issue we have to deal with in the Ministry of Health is the fact that a lot money from the CDF kitty in many constituencies is used to enhance health services. We are not complaining. We are happy and congratulate Members of Parliament who use some of their money from the CDF Fund to construct health facilities. But the more health facilities they put up, the more the pressure on us to recruit more health workers and provide drugs. Let me say a few things on construction of new health facilities for the benefit of the hon. Members."
}