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{
    "id": 917404,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/917404/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 273,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Halake",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13184,
        "legal_name": "Abshiro Soka Halake",
        "slug": "abshiro-soka-halake"
    },
    "content": "of the word “medical supplies” has been enhanced to include therapeutic feeds and nutritional formulations. This is a really major part of prevention. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, one of the biggest problems we face in our country is global acute malnutrition. In counties like Isiolo, global acute malnutrition ranges from between 27 and 30 per cent. That is a threshold for crisis in terms of nutrition. The effect of this is that it stunts the growth of our children not just in the body but in the mind as well. Sometimes when I see how our children are behaving, I keep wondering whether it is because of this phenomenon of acute global malnutrition. We see kids who are really stunted not just in body but also in the mind. In the next few years, we will have a generation of children in this country that are so disadvantaged in terms of both body and mind. I am very happy that in this Bill, we are not just looking at curative but also preventive measures especially from the perspective of ensuring that there are good nutrition formulations and therapeutic feeds. The amendment in Section 3(e) spells out how KEMSA will enter into partnership with county governments to establish drawing rights and maintain appropriate supply chain systems and drug supplies. For a long time, I worked with the Global Fund System and I can attest to the fact that there are always stock-outs and expired drugs. There is no system in place within KEMSA of triggering supplies to go to our dispensaries and health facilities regularly and in good time. I think this Bill is very timely and will provide a framework within which stock-outs and the issue of expiry of drugs will be managed and also the needs of counties will be prioritized not just from the national level. Mr. Deputy Speaker Sir, regarding Clause 5, I am very happy that we have not neglected the issue of personnel. This Bill seeks to enhance the involvement of counties in medical health personnel. This is especially for the authority where two persons are competitively recruited and appointed by the Cabinet Secretary, but also two persons of the opposite gender. I am very happy to note that this Bill has tried to make sure that our constitutional requirement to have not more than two-thirds of the same gender in any appointive or elective positions is adhered to. Therefore, I am happy that she has also looked at the issue of health workers and health personnel. Paragraph 6(19) of the principle Act is amended by inserting sub-sections immediately after sub-section 1, which I think is very timely as well. It says that where procurement is carried out pursuant to agreement with a county government under Section 4(i)(e), the Authority shall ensure that there is consultation and proper identification of the needs of the county government prior to such procurement. Participation of the key stakeholders or the key clients, in this case the county, is paramount. We cannot afford to have national agencies just doing whatever they feel like without consulting or working together with counties. I am glad that this provision which did not exist in the principal Act has been taken care of. Paragraph 7(21)(i) states as follows- “The Cabinet Secretary may, under recommendation of the Authority and upon consultation with the council make regulations for the better carrying out of the objects of the Act.” The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}