Bungoma is one of the counties in Western Kenya which has seen changes in political leadership as a result of the election. The county has a new Governor, His Excellency Hon. Wycliffe Wafula Wangamati, who was sworn in on 21st of August 2017. At the helm of Bungoma leadership, H.E. Hon. Wangamati will be charged with the overall responsibility of efficient management of all devolved state functions including the Ministry of Health (MOH) for the next 5 years.
Partners and programmes supporting the Ministry of Health in Reproductive Maternal, Newborn, Children and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH), including E4A-Mama Ye, have expressed optimism that the new county leadership will provide solutions for the challenges the MOH has been facing since the advent of devolution.
In his first ever meeting after inauguration, the governor chose to meet MOH partners to understand their challenges. During the meeting, limited funding for MOH was addressed, outlining years of impact upon the effective running of the Ministry. Nearly 75% of budget allocation is spent on remuneration of staff which is leaving. These frequent changes in staff have been affecting service delivery for years. Only 25% of budget is allocated for development, including the purchase of commodities, hiring of new staff and improvement of health infrastructure. Health stakeholders including E4A-Mama Ye Kenya have expressed their concerns by calling the political leadership to increase resource allocation.
"I am a son of a nurse and so I understand the challenges of the health sector. I grew up accessing health services from public health facilities and so I identify myself with the situation. I am passionate and committed to providing solutions for these challenges to be best of my abilities", the governor told partners as he rose to make his remarks.
In recognition of the challenges attributed to limited funds faced by the health sector, the Governor promised to allocate more funds towards the health department for improvement of health systems. If this is realised, Bungoma will be better placed to improve the health infrastructure, equip health facilities with adequate commodities, strengthen health systems and improve on provider-patient ratio. In addition, an increase in resources will further motivate health providers with better pay to alleviate health workers strikes that have crippled the health sector in the county.
One of the immediate tasks on my to do list is to enhance staff motivation through promotion.
said Governor Wangamati while responding to partners’ issues. The Governor confirmed his intentions to involve health partners in the planning and budgeting process. His statements strongly indicate his good will in promoting accountability by ensuring there is a participatory budgeting process, which successfully reflects the needs of the MOH and other sectors.
E4A-Mama Ye Kenya will be happy to support the MOH and other Civil Society Organisations in realising this core component of the budget making process. He promised to align MOH programs and budgets to partner programmes within the County.
Governor Wangamati acknowledges the fact that frequent staff movement affects effective implementation of partner programs. He said there is need for retention of staff to perform different function in programs implemented by partners. He promised to minimise staff transfers for optimal realization of results for the mutual benefit of both partners and MOH.
To further promote accountability, Governor Wangamati promised to ensure that health stakeholder meetings are held on a bi-monthly basis for sharing of progress and challenges. E4A-Mama Ye Kenya welcomes his move, as more RMNCAH evidence materials can now be shared with health stakeholders in these accountability forums.
A critical review of Governor Wangamati’s manifesto reveals that the Governor’s pledges are solidly anchored on it. In his manifesto, he promises among other things to organise health services around people's needs and expectations through service delivery reforms and increase stakeholder participation in the management and provision of health.
Additionally, E4A-Mama Ye Kenya welcomes the Governors commitment in RMNCAH, as displayed in this statement on page 8 of his manifesto;
I will pay particular attention to maternal and infant health. Under my administration, no mother should ever die while bringing forth the miracle of life due to human negligence or shortage of drugs or even equipment.
Let’s make sure he fulfils his commitment.