By Martin Mworia Kiongozi
As a health professional and former Chair of Health Committee in the Meru County Assembly, I must speak with clarity and responsibility.
Information is power
As the great thinkers and psychoanalyst say, when people are informed, they make better choices and that information is power.
Let it be known that the elevation of Meru Level 5 Hospital to Meru Teaching and Referral Hospital Board (MTRH) Act was passed legally and properly by the second County Assembly of Meru.
The then Bill was tabled, debated, and passed into an Act of Meru County, with full support from the 23-member Health Committee I chaired and the house at large.
Public participation was done
No formal opposition or Memoranda or complaints were submitted at the time.
The Act is a public document
You may request a copy from the Clerk of the County Assembly or from the Government Printer. It is not hidden.
We must not allow absentee leaders, those who live in Nairobi and try to lead Meru by remote to downplay the hard work done by our elected leaders.
As the former Health Committee Chair, I stand firmly in support of our dear President Dr. William Ruto, Deputy President Prof.Kithure Kindiki,our dear Governor Mutuma M’Ethingia and Super Senator Kathuri Murungi and all our elected leaders from MCAs to MPs and opinion leaders as they move forward to implement this elevation to National Status.
Mr.President and our Governor you have clean bill and all legal statutes and alive act ready for your consideration and implementation.
On Improving Access to Healthcare.
We also need to consider other neighbouring facilities in North Imenti Constituency.
Giaki Level 4 Hospital can be equipped to serve Imenti East Sub-county well.
Kinoru Dispensary can be elevated from Dispensary to serve Imenti North Sub-county better.
Other Health facilities like Kathithi, Runogone,Chugu, Gakoromone, and Mulathakari should also be upgraded fairly.
On Specialized Care and Training
Meru needs a strong health system. I proudly sponsored a bill to establish a Meru County Cancer Centre, giving legal power to the Executive to seek funding from both government and partners.
The Bill has since been enacted into an Act of Meru County.
Meru has the highest cancer cases in Kenya, if not Africa.
We must act urgently.
We also planned to decongest KMTC by opening a second branch in Kieni Kia Mburi, where 15 acres of land were donated by the community.
The KMTC board visited and agreed to establish new courses in Pharmacy, Public Health, Medical Engineering, Health Records, and more.
Let us continue with these original plans. Let us not lose vision.
May God bless Meru.
May God bless the Meru County Assembly, past and present.
*May our leaders work together for the health and greatness of our people.
The writer is the former Nyaki West MCA and a former Chair, Health Committee in the second Assembly of Meru County.
