Nairobi: A section of Members of Parliament from Garissa have called for the elevation of the Garissa Referral Hospital into a Level 6 facility run by the national government to reduce the pressure on other sub-county hospitals in the area. The MPs Dekow Mohamed (Garissa Township), Salah Yakub (Fafi), Sheikh Abdi (Ijara), and Garissa senator Abdul Haji argued that the Level 5 hospital not only serves the people of Garissa but also others from the neighboring counties.

According to Kenya News Agency, during the closure of a five-day free medical camp in Garissa, Dekow urged Governor Nathif Jama to allow the elevation of the facility so that he could focus on other Level 4 hospitals. Dekow highlighted the regional significance of the hospital and the cancer center, suggesting that all regional leaders collaborate to facilitate this elevation to address the existing pressure on the facilities.

Dekow further emphasized that the national government should assume control of these facilities to ensure budget allocation from the national level, allowing the county government to concentrate on the sub-county Level 4 hospitals. He pointed out that other counties with busy Level 5 hospitals have already applied for elevation, suggesting Garissa should follow suit to benefit from the national budget allocation.

Fafi’s Salah Yakub noted the frequent shortage of medical supplies in sub-county hospitals and dispensaries due to increased demand at the Garissa Level 5 Hospital. He urged the county government, along with other leaders and stakeholders, to initiate the process of transferring the Level 5 hospital to the national government. This, he argued, would allow the remaining resources to support other hospitals in the county more effectively.

Yakub also highlighted that the Ministry of Health allocated 42 billion for Level 6 hospitals this year, and Garissa is missing out on this allocation. By elevating the hospital, he believes other sub-county hospitals will benefit from improved resource distribution.