Health facilities in Kisii County have received a major boost following the arrival of a consignment of drugs and other pharmaceuticals worth KShs.80million.

Governor James Ongwae flagged off the first consignment of drugs from Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (KEMSA) in a brief ceremony at the Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital (KTRH).

The consignment comprises essential medicines including anti-malarial and antiretroviral drugs as well as drugs meant for the management of TB, Diabetes among others.

The first batch of medicines is meant for 13 Sub County hospitals while the second batch, which arrives in the County on Sunday, will cater for the remainder of 127 health facilities. KTRH will receive drugs worth KShs.7million.

“Today, we are flagging off essential medicines for our health facilities to ensure adequacy of drug supply. We are doing the best to ensure steady supply of drugs for our people,” said Governor Ongwae.

Chief Officer for Health Services Alice Abuki, KTRH CEO Dr Enock Ondari, Budget Committee Chairman Dennis Ombachi, MCAs Pius Abuki (Kitutu Central), Charles Onchong’a (Monyerero) and Charles Nyagoto (Bogeka) attended the function.

Governor Ongwae announced that the County had finalized plans to operationalize 32 health facilities built through CDF and other agencies to boost health service delivery to the people.

“We shall shortly hire additional nurses to help operationalize these new facilities. We have already placed an order for drugs worth KShs.40million to be dispatched to these new facilities,” observed the Governor.

He urged residents to be vigilant and report cases of misuse of drugs in the outlying health facilities.

“Wananchi are free to give us feedback on the distribution of drugs at the grassroots. Going forward, we are computerizing the drug distribution system because the pharmacy store is now complete. This will help monitor drug distribution for efficiency,” he said.