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{
    "id": 885624,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/885624/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 96,
    "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": " Hon. Speaker, I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.44 to give a Statement to this House on a matter that has caught attention of the country, the matter of the Kenyan doctors being trained in Cuba. First, allow me to pass my sincere condolences and the Committee’s deepest condolences to the family, friends, and the County of Mombasa for the loss of Dr. Hamisi Ali Juma who was part of the contingent to Cuba. My condolences go further to Hon. Mishi Mboko, who is a Member of this House, and is a sister of the deceased. Hon. Speaker, the Departmental Committee on Health was seized of allegations of mistreatment of 50 Kenyan doctors taken to Cuba under bilateral agreement for postgraduate studies in Family Medicine. We also received information that we lost one of the doctors in circumstances that remain unclear until today. The Departmental Committee on Health and this House appropriated an amount of Kshs1 billion for the overall Cuba bilateral programme with a cost of Kshs338.9 million specifically for the Kenyan doctors to be trained in Cuba. This programme was part of the wider scheme towards attainment of one of the Government’s Big Four Agenda - the Universal Health Coverage. Hon. Speaker, when the matter came to light, the Committee immediately wrote to the Ministry of Health inviting them for a meeting that was held today, 21st March 2019 to establish more facts around the matter. I confirm that we met with the Ministry and the Principal Secretary this morning. Hon. Speaker, I would like to inform the House that the Government of Kenya entered into a bilateral agreement with the Government of Cuba to tap into advancement of health standards in Cuba towards attainment of universal health coverage in Kenya. The Ministry tabled this agreement before the Committee. Part of this agreement was the component of training 50 Kenyan doctors in Cuba in postgraduate studies in Family Medicine. This was for a period of two years and four months. The Ministry wrote to the Council of Governors (COG) requesting them to nominate 47 doctors, one from each county, who met the criteria that was well stipulated. Therefore, the names of these doctors who were recommended came from the county governments. They are employees of the counties. The doctors were taken through a thorough orientation course at the Kenya School of Government (KSG) before departure. This was done voluntarily. It is key to note that the nomination was subject to these doctors personal acceptance to go to Cuba."
}