Governor Alfred Mutua to hire 800 nurses and 35 doctors

Governor Alfred Mutua

The County Government of Machakos will hire 800 nurses to be posted to all hospitals and health centres.

Governor Alfred Mutua said he would also hire other key personnel in the healthcare sector.

The move, according to Dr Mutua, is to ensure the minimum allowable operating staff in all hospitals and health centres.

According to the plan 35 doctors, 50 clinical officers, 10 pharmacists, 20 pharmaceutical technologists, 20 lab technicians and 10 radiographers will be hired.

The county will also hire specialist officers who include one anaethesist, two ear, nose and throat specialists, one psychiatrist, one dermatologist and one general surgeon.

Also to be employed are 80 subordinate staff. The plan will also include the purchase of adequate essential drugs and equipment.

"This is just the beginning of our Maendeleo Chap Chap paradigm shift that provides our people with quality health care comparable to that in developed countries," said Mutua.

Mutua who chaired a crisis meeting at his Machakos office yesterday to address challenges facing the quality provision of health services, said his key goal is to ensure the county achieves international healthcare standards where preservation of life is paramount.

"Today will be recorded as the day the health care provision in Machakos changed forever for the benefit of our residents and visitors," said Mutua.

He added: "To me, life is sacred, and proper treatment a right of every person. Lack of proper management, lethargy and equipment can and has led to deaths in many hospitals in our county."

He said improvement in health care will only be achieved by action and not through endless talking.