Mombasa county residents have asked the county governor Abdulswamad Nassir to enhance health services and ensure proper functionality of all public healthcare facilities in the county.
The residents led by Capital Youth Caucus Association secretary general Evans Momanyi, said the health department has been facing various challenges that need urgent intervention.
Momanyi urged the governor to make this as a priority during his first 100 days in office.
"I know the governor is a man who will save the situation, he has already given us hope since he took over especially with how he has been handling the garbage issue, we urge him to now also focus on health" said Momanyi.
Momanyi also urged the governor to make sure that he retains the current chief officer health department Pauline Odinga saying she has been spearheading some changes in the department.
Momanyi charged "We have faith in madam Odinga, she has been working hard to ensure that service delivery is improved and we believe if she works closely with the governor then we will see alot of changes in the department"
On her part Amina Suleiman, a resident from Likoni sub county called on the governor to ensure that he tackles the maternity services in county facilities saying they need an overhaul.
"As mothers we have been facing alot of challenges when delivering to an extend that we feel like giving up, some of the nurses are nude, some facilities lack medication and this are the things we want our governor together with madam Odinga address" said Suleiman.
Adding "Some of us cannot afford the services offered in other facilities and that is why we have no option but to seek services at the county facilities, what we can only ask from our governor is to please help us have better services."
Last week governor Nassir formed a taskforce on Healthcare Systems in the county.
The taskforce chaired by Dr Chibanzi Mwachonda is expected to audit and give back recommendations within two months.
“The Healthcare Task Force will provide a longtime strategic plan, suggesting ways of improving the health coverage and revealing what ails Mombasa’s healthcare system,” the governor said during the unveiling of the taskforce.
The task force consists of a representative from the Kenya Medical Associations, Mombasa Civil Society Organisations, the National Health Insurance Fund and six Community Health Volunteers representing each subcounty, the chief officer from public medical services and public health and the county Secretary.
The team is also expected to audit the current public healthcare human resource deployed and make recommendations to address skills gap, assess and recommend on addressing disease patterns and also formulate lasting solutions towards achieving universal health care that is affordable and accessible.
