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{
    "id": 913334,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/913334/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 359,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Funyula, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. (Dr.) Wilberforce Oundo",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13331,
        "legal_name": "Wilberforce Ojiambo Oundo",
        "slug": "wilberforce-ojiambo-oundo-2"
    },
    "content": " Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairman, while I support the allocation to the Ministry of Health, I want to raise my concerns. I raise my concern coming from a constituency on the border between Kenya and Uganda. We have a serious problem with healthcare provision to a point our members are actually going to neighbouring constituencies or districts in Uganda for medical care. Sincerely, for the national Government to retain a whopping Kshs92 billion for a devolved function and yet we do not see the support they offer to county governments, is in a way sabotaging devolution and undermining the spirit of the Constitution. I urge the Departmental Committee on Health to have a serious discourse with the Ministry of Health to see to what extent they can support counties in the provision of healthcare. If they do not trust counties, let them trust Members of Parliament with some allocation on top of the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NGCDF) to do basic things. We have to get money out of our pockets to even buy anti-rabies for kids bitten by dogs in the constituencies. We also have to get money to buy high blood pressure drugs. I think it is becoming an unbearable burden. The Ministry of Health together with the Council of Governors need to have a sober discussion around this issue because, as my colleague has said, almost 90 per cent of salaries goes towards meeting funeral expenses for preventable diseases. A substantial part of our salaries actually goes to pay for medical care for members of our constituencies who cannot afford to pay for the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF). We have to pay from our pockets. It is becoming an unbearable burden. The Government and this House needs to come to the rescue of Members of Parliament. Thank you."
}