Siaya county government has set aside Ksh100 million to procure mortuary refrigerators for two public hospitals after concerns over the state of the facilities.

Speaking after a meeting with local traders on Wednesday, November 16, Governor James Orengo said Siaya and Bondo hospitals will benefit from the equipment.

According to the governor, the refrigerators are part of the many equipments his administration will equip the two facilities to meet the standards of referral and level four hospitals.

Orengo said his government is committed to facilitating health institutions in the county in an effort of enhancing access to quality health care.

“We are going to priorities ambulances that are fully equipped to handle serious ailing patients before they get to hospitals,” Orengo said after the meeting with traders from Bondo, adding that he has a plan to develop complex facilities in Bondo and Siaya to match Kisii Referral Hospital.

“During the tour of Bondo health facility, we established that it was operating with only three doctors while the total number of doctors in Siaya is 20. Kisii Referral Hospital has 250 doctors,” he added.

He further revealed that his administration has allocated Ksh100 million for the procurement of drugs for health facilities in the county.

“We have ringfenced Ksh100 million for drugs. The money will not be diverted to facilitate other programs,” Orengo stated adding that his administration has put up measures that would enhance the safety of drugs right from the source of collection to the facilities.

To address challenges facing the Bondo traders union, the county boss directed that the traders’ leadership be incorporated into the Bondo municipality.

He said the Municipality of Bondo would be in charge of the affairs of Bondo and hence traders’ leadership must be part of it so that issues of water shortages, market lighting, security of the markets, washrooms, and garbage collection can be addressed adequately.

Flanked by Siaya Acting Governance Chief Officer Jared Abayo and Director Enterprises Chris Owang, Orengo said promised to solve the water shortage in Bondo by December.

He indicated that Abura Dam which is undergoing rehabilitation would serve Alego/Usonga, so the current Sidindi water project that is currently serving the entire Siaya on rationing mode would be directed to Bondo pipes.

Orengo told traders to be part of SACCOs or cooperative movements so as to bargain for funds from national and county governments to expand their businesses.