Siaya has been ranked among the few counties to have absorbed Danida/World bank funded Transforming Health Systems (THS) for universal care project. The county has prudently utilised Shs 198 million of the Shs 216 million disbursed to it by the donors - translating to a 92% absorption rate.
The objective of this project is to improve the utilization and quality of primary Health care services with a focus on reproductive, maternal, newborn, Child and adolescent health (RMNCAH). Implementation of the five-year programme ends in March this year.
Primary health care has been a major concern for the ministry of health and the Council of Governors, but this funding has ensured people at the community level access health services with ease.
Through the THS-UCP basket fund, Siaya County managed to procure a number of assorted equipment, seven portable ultrasound machines, four KEPI fridges, two patient monitors, two branded modern ambulances and one utility vehicle,
The funding also had a component of capacity building through training and mentorship of health care workers, training of Community Health Assistants (CHAs) and Community Health Care Workers (CHWs) on maternal and newborn health, renovated maternity wards at Ndere, Sumba, Gobei and Got Agulu Health Centres
Governor James Orengo noted that health is a very crucial component in any development process and its importance, therefore cannot be underestimated. He emphasised Health determines among other things, the level of productivity of the population, living standards and consequently the level of development. He therefore thanked the tea for a well-executed project assured them that there will be a smooth transition even as the project comes to an end in due course.
Some of the key indicators of the project between 2017/18 to 2021/22 is as follows; Mother visiting Antenatal mothers facilities stood at 40% and moved to 68% Skilled birth deliveries at 57% rising to 96% and Children under one year fully immunized rose from 71% to 92 %.