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{
"id": 917439,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/917439/?format=api",
"text_counter": 308,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. (Prof.) Ongeri",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": {
"id": 124,
"legal_name": "Samson Kegeo Ongeri",
"slug": "samson-ongeri"
},
"content": "If you do timely immunization, take care of nutritional requirements of growing children in the society and the environment under which people are staying that is what I call public health; which is preventative and promotive healthcare. That should be the major functions, where major resources must be spent by county governments. This would reduce the disease burden by more 50 per cent. This means that you will also reduce the bed occupancy in hospitals, because bed occupancy is curative medicine. When you have more people in the hospitals, you incur more costs and expenses than is required. I, therefore, urge the county governments, through the COG, that they must request for a bigger stake in KEMSA representation. If we have a weak representation, we will not get the kind of services that I have enumerated above. We will be told, “Yes, we will send you your kit,” but when it comes, it is incomplete. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, the fifth headache that I would like to call upon the county governments to be aware of, is that some of these drugs have been procured by fellows who do not care to look at the shelf-life or the expiry dates. Some of the suppliers push drugs to KEMSA in the name of being efficacious, but the shelf-life is about six months. They then do bulk supplies to all counties, who have no clue about the kind of supplies they are getting from KEMSA. They do not look at the lifespan of those drugs. When you go to the county health sector, you are told that they have plenty of drugs. However, if you open them, the bulk of them are expired. The bulk of them are those drugs which are not being used in that area frequently. What is the point of supplying malaria drugs to areas where the disease is not rampant? We all know that the epicenter of malaria is in particular regions. Obviously, they will expire. We have a classical case. I was pained the other day when I saw a mother crying, simply because there was no anti-snake venom in Kitui. It is a very sad story, when we know that you are likely to find snakes in the Arid and Semi-Arid Land (ASAL) areas. I have worked in Wajir as a medical officer and one of the biggest enemies during hot periods are snakes. You will find them even on your bed. They look for coolness and drinking water in the houses. If you are not careful, they will inject that venom in you, and you will be dead. One of the most essential kits that must be available in all the ASAL areas where snakes are rampant is the anti-snake venom. Unfortunately, you will find it in areas where there are no snakes, and we end up losing people in the areas with snakes. The KEMSA should be acquainted with the medical geographical survey of disease patterns. There are other diseases like Schistosomiasis in cesspools in Ukambani and in other areas. We have sleeping sickness in Lambwe Valley. Therefore, they should do a demarcation, where you find some of the conditions are rampant and spread out the necessary drugs and supplies. This will enable them to match the medical conditions prevalent and important in that area so that they do not run short of supplies. That is why the county governments have to resort to ad hoc purchases of these drugs from the shelves. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, this Bill is more than what you see written here. If we go wrong in the procurement of these drugs and medical equipment, then we are done. 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."
}