By Anchor Writer
A new health minister has taken office at the Machakos County Government.
The minister, Mr. Justus Kasivu faces a daunting array of challenges that demand urgent attention.
Kasivu was promoted from the position of Chief Officer for Medical Services and has been acting as minister since the resignation of Dr Daniel Yumbya in August this year.
Resolving the ongoing doctors’ strike, which began in September 2024, must be at the top of his list of priorities.
This is because doctors’ activities in hospitals guide the diagnosis, treatment, and possible admission of patients in hospitals.
The strike, involving nearly 200 doctors, has crippled healthcare delivery across the county as they demand fulfilment of long-overdue promises made by Governor Wavinya Ndeti, including promotions and salary reviews.
Kasivu also inherits a workforce plagued by low morale, driven by perceptions that the county government prioritizes hospital infrastructure and revenue collection over the welfare of health workers.
All hospitals in the county are currently operating as outpatient facilities due to the lack of doctors to admit patients.
Chronic shortages of pharmaceuticals, exacerbated by rampant theft of medical supplies, further undermine service delivery.
Absenteeism among doctors, some of whom use public hospitals to attract patients for their private clinics, remains a persistent and thorny issue in public hospitals throughout the county.
The county healthcare system also struggles with outdated and broken-down equipment essential for service delivery.
According to a senior consultant medic, the health department is hindered by an insufficient annual budget of Kes 850 million, with only Kes 350 million allocated for operations.
The new minister will have to strategically manage this budget throughout the year to avoid the challenges that derailed his predecessor, Dr. Daniel Yumbya.
The prolonged doctors’ strike is expected to impact revenue collection targets, creating additional financial strain on the health sector.
Kasivu must also address rising tensions at Machakos Level 5 Hospital, where stricter work schedules introduced by the new CEO have caused dissatisfaction among nurses.
Nurses, who form the backbone of service delivery, feel excluded from discussions about their working conditions, further threatening the county’s already strained health services.
As Kasivu assumes office, his ability to tackle these pressing issues will determine the future of healthcare in Machakos County.
