Introduce Disease Burden As Parameter for Division of Revenue — Governors

By Eric Omwombo 

Governors want the state to introduce disease burden as a parameter for the division of revenue. The leaders say that just as ASAL counties get more earnings by their drought status so should it happen to counties with high disease burden.

Led by Siaya Governor James Orengo, they said the surest way to reverse the negative health indicators is more resources because most of the programmes are funded by partners.
“We are having the highest disease burden in the Lake region economic bloc. it includes HIV, Malaria and other non-communicable disease.
Unfortunately, some of this assistance has to go through the national government. Health is a devolved function and yet in many practical ways, the responsibility and resources remain with the National government. If the state means well for counties burdened with diseases it should support us,” said Orengo.

Having these disease burdens is something in my view should become a parameter in the division of revenue between County and National government.

This burden seemed to be constant.
Orengo further urged Wanga of Homabay to champion Malaria while Lusaka advocate for HIV as he takes care of other diseases with Prof. Nyong’o doing supervisory roles.
The leaders revealed that malaria is still a threat to the lake region’s economic bloc.

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“Counties burdened with diseases should have more division of revenue,” said Lusaka adding that County health programs run on funds from partners. Though a high percentage of funds devolved to counties goes to the health docket it ends up funding recurrent expenditures.

“We need the state to support Counties with health burdens with more resources if we are serious about reversing the health indicators,” he added
Lusaka says that we must have a healthy nation before doing roads and agriculture projects.

Orengo says that the Lake region economic bloc has the highest disease burden adding that the supply of some drugs depends on partners including those coming from the United States of America.

Other government officials who attended the Homabay-International Investment conference were Trade Executive Grace Agola, Agriculture Executive Sylvester K’Okoth, Lands Executive Maurice Orege, Governance Executive Agunda Ochanda and Health Executive Matin K’Onyango.