Five counties to benefit from USAID health improvement programme

12-bed ICU in Kerugoya County Referral Hospital. [File, Standard]

Isiolo, Kakamega, Kilifi, Mombasa and Nakuru counties are set to benefit from a USAID programme that is aimed at enhancing healthcare. This initiative focuses on closing gaps in devolved health service delivery.

Speaking during the launch of the initiative in Nairobi, John Mutua, Chief of Party at The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA-Kenya), explained that this five-year project aims to improve health services by addressing key governance issues.

“This USAID-funded program, implemented by the Institute of Economic Affairs together with our partners, Concern Worldwide and Development Initiative, identified three key systemic governance issues affecting service delivery,” said Mutua.

The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA-Kenya), is the key implementing agency for the programme, which will be anchored on better financing and spending, increased oversight and accountability, and consistent health policies.

“These issues are not only unique to the five counties but are common across all 47 counties, differing only in magnitude,” Mutua added.

Currently, the selected counties spend less than 30 per cent of their budgets on health, with Nakuru being the only county to have met this threshold.