Governor Sakaja picks Olive Mugenda to chair taskforce reviewing health sector in Nairobi

KUTRRH Board of Directors Chairperson Olive Mugenda gives remarks as Health CAS Mercy Mwangangi looks on. [David Gichuru, Standard]

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has appointed a task force to access, review and propose reforms in the county's health sector.

The team will be chaired by former Kenyatta University Vice Chancellor Prof Olive Mugenda and Jairus Musumba as its secretary.

Its members include Health Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) Mercy Mwangangi, Amref Africa CEO Githinji Gitahi, Karei Mwenda, Dorcas Kemunto, and others.

The team is expected to among others; assess the status of all public health facilities in the county and review the supply chain management of pharma and non-pharma products.

"The task force shall assess the status of health information management and propose interventions towards a comprehensive health information management system," Sakaja said in a circular.

The Olive Mugenda-led taskforce shall within forty-five (45) days from the date of appointment file and submit a report with its recommendations to the Nairobi County government.

Sakaja's directive comes days after he made an impromptu visit to the Mama Lucy hospital following the death of a mother who had just delivered twins. The husband decried negligence from medical officers at the facility.

His visit revealed the sorry state of affairs with new mothers found sharing beds and others sleeping on the floor.

"The situation is not good. I apologize on behalf of the previous administration as well as the NMS for the state of things. We will take better care of you," he said.

It isn't the first time public hospitals within Nairobi have been on the spot.

Pumwani Maternity Hospital came under fire when in November 2019, a family accused the facility of negligence after their relative died under unclear circumstances.

Nancy Obwaya, 35, went to the hospital on October 22, 2019, expecting to deliver, but later died.

A post-mortem performed at City Mortuary in Nairobi revealed Obwaya died of 'obstructive labour' due to 'cephalo-pelvic disproportion'.