USAWA-Aiding to Boost Fiscal Accountability in Isiolo County’s Health Sector
Isiolo County in Kenya is striving to improve its healthcare system despite facing significant challenges. Limited resources, infrastructure issues, and social/cultural factors create hurdles in delivering effective healthcare. Remote locations with poor roads make it difficult for residents, especially in rural areas, to reach health centres. Additionally, traditions like early marriage and FGM negatively impact women’s health.
However, there are ongoing efforts to address these issues. The county participated in the UHC pilot program, aiming to make healthcare more accessible. New facilities with advanced equipment like renal dialysis units and CT scanners are being built. Specialized care programs like PRIDE provide free eye treatment. Community engagement initiatives like Mother-to-Mother groups empower women and improve access to care. Technological advancements with CT scans and X-ray Radiography equipment are being implemented in key health facilities.
The USAID-USAWA project seeks to partner with the County to strengthen its fiscal accountability, health governance and citizen engagement. The first stakeholder engagement for the project was held recently among the media community and the County Government, led by the county deputy secretary.
The media, as strategic partners in the above project, will undergo training to strengthen their capacity in health reporting, health system financing, and public procurement procedures. With Isiolo being one of the target counties for the USAWA project, they will benefit immensely from the training as it will enhance their capacity to improve public access to information concerning healthcare-related public financial processes and policies, educating them about the adverse impacts of corruption in healthcare systems within the county and empowering their grassroots efforts to combat it.
AMWIK Program coordinator, Lorna Sempele, highlighted the importance of the media not being seen as an enemy to those working in the health sector and called for collaboration between the county government and journalists for efficient delivery of timely, accurate and objective information to the public.
Speaking on behalf of the county government, Deputy County Secretary Mr. Mohammed Boru appreciated the importance of the USAWA Project to the Isiolo County government saying that it will help strengthen their working systems to improve accountability, and service delivery and ensure proper use of public resources for the good of Isiolo residents. He also promised to strengthen collaboration between the county communication office or department, officers and other Journalists so that by the end of the day, everybody has information and delivers that information to the public.
USAWA Deputy Chief of Party, Titus Gitonga from Transparency International Kenya noted that the project will bring together various actors to realize the goal of transparency and accountability in health services delivery within the county, they intend to implement programs that enhance effectiveness, efficiency and accountability on the use of public resources to achieve that.
As a result, the program will enhance the citizens’ ability to own, lead and act on issues of accountability, and participate in planning, implementation and oversight of service delivery within the health sector.
By Reuben Onyango, Project Assistant, AMWIK
