Entry Instance

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

{
    "id": 882952,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/882952/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 192,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Murang’a CWR, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. (Ms.) Sabina Chege",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 884,
        "legal_name": "Sabina Wanjiru Chege",
        "slug": "sabina-wanjiru-chege"
    },
    "content": "the final recommendations that Hon. Shakeel Shabbir had was not what the Committee had agreed. You can see the interest of the Members who were in the previous Committee and even in their contribution on this Floor. We, as a Committee, took the matter the way we would have taken the matter of another complaint about the KMPDB. We engaged with them. The entire board came. We recalled again Dr. Soni and we started afresh. All what we wanted from the bodies is the level at which Dr. Soni was recognised as a specialist. Only that! Hon. Speaker, from their presentation - which was part of what I presented –the procedure was clear, including what Hon. Mbui has raised about the years that one is supposed to be attached to a public institution under supervision. The board could not explain how they gave her specialist recognition without her having a supervisor. Actually, the people who had given the board the letters and the attachment they gave to us as a Committee were students who were in the same year with Dr. Soni. So, when we asked the body why the matter which was raised in 2014 had taken them so long to relook at, they said they were waiting for the Committee report. That is what we did. At the same time, when we met Dr. Soni, she said she is an ophthalmologist, but she cannot do surgery. It is in the Report. As we debate on this Floor, let us look at the facts. She said she was willing - and it is on record because this is a House of records. Committees sometimes take a lot of time to investigate matters. I am not a doctor and I would not be interested in the matter. Members of my Committee would not be interested in those business rivalries. What I am hearing from Members is that it must have been business rivalry. When Hon. Shakeel Shabbir appeared before the Committee, we asked him the same question about the allegations of business rivalry and he denied it. He said the Eye and U Hospital is a totally different issue. Some of the issues raised are so heavy because, out of this inquiry, you notice that the board authorises Indian doctors. Somebody has mentioned Cuba. For sure, somebody knows the process the Government went through and how the Cuban doctors were engaged. Some of us Members of Parliament are doing medical camps with foreign doctors who come to attend to our people. There must be a proper procedure. So, as a Committee, we were concerned. Unfortunately, it had to come through the inquiry of Dr. Soni and so the board had to explain issues. We said we cannot cancel the specialist recognition of Dr. Soni and left it to the board so that they can follow the proper procedure. Some of the hospitals, when I was going through this, were not by then recognised as facilities that specialists would have trained and were supervised under. Dr. Soni was willing to be attached to any hospital any time and she said so. She did not have a problem. This is not just about Dr. Soni but it is about the KMPDB and the health of this nation. As you look at it, you will see we are talking about accessibility and affordability. If there is a gap in the area of ophthalmologists who are not many in this nation, do we allow them to get in through the back door because they are few? We can offer training through sponsorship or scholarship as a Government so that we can get more ophthalmologists instead of allowing any one to come in without following the proper procedure. You never know, it can be your relative or constituent who could find themselves under such doctors, and you know issues of the eye can be sensitive. We know many people have become blind and so, it is important that this House seizes the matter. Hon. Speaker, you can advise us on how, but it is important matter to this nation. Thank you."
}