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{
    "id": 780684,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/780684/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 108,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Wandayi",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 2960,
        "legal_name": "James Opiyo Wandayi",
        "slug": "james-opiyo-wandayi"
    },
    "content": "healthcare. These are the vary services the Kenyan people are yearning for. We face the problem of unaffordable or inadequate primary healthcare services. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, we are aware that the function of health is largely devolved. I support what my chairman has said. I do not think that we should try and take back the function of health from the counties to the national level as a way of addressing the problem we are facing in that sector. That will be skirting around the problem. We should be asking ourselves what it is that has made it impossible or difficult for the county governments to perform this very critical function of health. For you to prescribe solutions to a problem, you must, first of all, carry out a proper diagnosis. Why is it that for more than six years upon the advent of devolution our county governments are unable to perform the health function in the manner Kenyans expect them to? Is it that this function was taken to them prematurely or it is because of inadequate resources to support it? What is it? That is the question we have to answer even as we strive to establish level 6 hospitals in our counties. Again, a level 6 hospital, as the name suggests, is a referral hospital. It is only for referral cases yet the majority cases that we have to deal with are primary healthcare cases that need not have to go to those referral hospitals in the first place. Until recently, the Kenyatta National Hospital was actually changed from being a referral hospital to a primary healthcare institution which was not the original intention. It happened because those health facilities that needed to provide primary healthcare services were unable to do so. We can create another hospital in Mombasa, Bungoma or God willing in Siaya County where I come from and transform them into basically primary healthcare facilities on account of the fact that those facilities which need to provide these primary healthcare facilities are not able to do so. So, this House has a challenge to rise to the occasion and confront this problem holistically. Otherwise, the approach we are taking is not going to help provide a long term solution. I want to fully support my friend, Hon. Mohamed Ali for bringing up this Motion, if only to jolt and awaken us that there is something that needs to be done, if we are to save the country from a catastrophe. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, it is known that Kenya has no shortage of properly trained health personnel. Kenya actually trains many health professionals and experts in nearly all areas of health or medicine yet we are unable to absorb all these personnel because we cannot afford to pay them adequately. That is why you find many highly trained doctors are leaving the country to go and offer their services elsewhere; services which we barely need as a country. Secondly, even for those who choose to stay around and support or serve Kenyans find it difficult to operate because of the poor working environment. From a policy point of view, this is an issue that requires relooking into holistically as I said earlier on. This House has a standing Departmental Committee on Health with has very competent Members and a Chairperson. So, they have a challenge to make a difference in this 12th Parliament. The country will be looking upon that Committee to provide a roadmap towards addressing this problem that we seem to be skirting around, first as a House, and second as a country. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, without belaboring the point, I wish to support. Thank you."
}