Nairobi: The health sector in West Pokot County has received a substantial upgrade with the provision of medical supplies valued at Sh60.1 million from the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (KeMSA). The supplies will be distributed across 158 health facilities in the county, aimed at bringing health services closer to the residents.

According to Kenya News Agency, Deputy Governor Robert Komolle, who represented Governor Simon Kachapin at the flag-off ceremony in Kapenguria, emphasized the county's strong procurement relationship with KeMSA. He noted that the supplies are provided on credit, with payments scheduled following the implementation of E-Government Procurement. Komolle highlighted that West Pokot is among the few counties with no outstanding bills with KeMSA, facilitating the trust to receive drugs on credit.

Komolle encouraged residents to register with the SHA medical insurance, which he stated would not only generate revenue for purchasing medical supplies but also mitigate the financial burden of healthcare expenses. He mentioned that the county's health facilities cater to patients from neighboring counties, thereby expanding the reach of the newly acquired supplies.

Clare Parklea, County Executive Committee Member for Health, urged residents to monitor the effective use of the drugs and report any misuse. She noted that while most health facilities will benefit from the supplies, 10 facilities awaiting batch numbers can access drugs from county stores. Parklea commended KeMSA for their confidence in West Pokot's procurement practices, acknowledging that the county had received 91 percent of its requested supplies, a rare achievement.

KeMSA's North Rift Region representative, Zaccheus Muya, lauded West Pokot for maintaining a debt-free record with the agency. He assured that the remaining supplies from the county's Sh65 million order would be fulfilled under a back-order arrangement. Kasei Ward MCA Francis Krop praised the county administration for promptly securing the medical supplies despite funding delays, urging further dialogue with the national government to expedite the E-Government Procurement rollout.