Entry Instance

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

{
    "id": 596692,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/596692/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 85,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. A. B. Duale",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 15,
        "legal_name": "Aden Bare Duale",
        "slug": "aden-duale"
    },
    "content": "responsible for preventing and guarding against the introduction of infectious diseases. This is part of streamlining the many directorates that are found within the Ministry of Health. Hon. Speaker, Clause 27 establishes the Kenya Health Professionals Oversight Authority (KHPOA). Its function is to oversee the regulatory functions of all national health systems, both private and public and to ensure that adequate coordination is done for the joint activities of these bodies. Clause 48 outlaws human organs transplantation except in a manner provided for. It is streamlining how you can transplant different organs between different bodies and patients. That was not the case before. A framework has been put in place. Clause 32 creates the establishments of a single regulatory body for the regulation of health products and technologies and by a separate Act of Parliament. This is a very condensed health policy and I am sure there are a number of other small Bills that we need to bring on board. Clause 54 deals with matters relating to health financing and Clause 56 provides that the Cabinet Secretary (CS) shall pursue strategies. Finally, before I give a chance to my colleagues, I want to go on record that I have nothing against county governments. There are only two things that made me support the Constitutional Referendum in 2010, namely, devolution and the Kadhis’ Courts. Those were very fundamental issues in the Kenyan Constitution in 2010. Among the many things that I supported in the Constitution, from the Bill of Rights, my irreducible minimum was the introduction of a devolved system of Government and the retention of the Kadhis’ Court, being a person who professes the Muslims’ faith. However, three years down the line I am a very worried man in as far as devolution of the healthcare system is concerned. My constituency is one of the very few constituencies that enjoy the services of a Level 5 hospital. In the last Parliament, Garissa Provincial General Hospital was one of the best healthcare institutions in the north. It used to serve, not only the North Eastern Province but counties like Lamu, Tana River, Isiolo and the whole of Kitui County. At the advent of devolution, the Garissa Level 5 Hospital fell under the County Government of Garissa. The last job I will seek in this country is governorship. I have no intention of seeking to be a governor and I want to be on record that I do not want to become a governor. From where I sit, the best job is being a Member of Parliament. There was a surgeon in Garissa Level 5 Hospital between 2007 and 2013 who did not even come from northern Kenya. He was from Kibra and was a respected surgeon. When we introduced devolution, all the doctors were removed and, of course, regional and ethnic issues came up. Today, if the Committee on Health walked to that hospital, it would be shocked to find that there is no water. Our women, wives and daughters access maternity services without water. Theatres have collapsed and healthcare workers have not been paid. You cannot imagine the status. When Prof. Nyikal looks at me from where he is sitting, being a former Director of Medical Services and at one time a Permanent Secretary (PS), Ministry of Public Health, he has visited Garissa General Hospital more than thrice. He is now a Member of the Committee on Health. I have said that I have no interest in being a governor and my interest is the people I represent. Today, that hospital has been reduced to a health centre. I am not saying it should be returned to the national Government. It should still be with the county government, but somebody somewhere must not ethinicise or politicise the health care system. My family is privileged to have one or two doctors working in the private sector or the NGO world. You can The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}