Health centre struggling

By LULU MARK
THE Christian Health Services (CHS) continue to struggle to keep its doors open due to cut in funds, an official says.
CHS chief executive officer Ulch Tapia told The National that there were big cuts in the salary grants and operational funds from the Government this year that affected the church-run health facilities.
Tapia said the salary grant appropriated for this year was K61 million which was cut by K8 million from the last two years where it was allocated K69 million.
Tapia said there was a 73 per cent cut in the operational funding from the Government this year leaving it with K2.7 million to run its operations.
He said last year K9 million was appropriated but K8 million was given for operations.
“For salaries, we have been paid up till June and up to March for operations,” Tapia said.
“We are unable to run our all routine programmes.
“Our support staff have been laid off and now the doctors, nurses and health extension officers are doing everything such as cleaning and driving.
“Government made a commitment through a National Executive Council decision early this year to fund the shortfall in the 2021 budget appropriation therefore it needs to fund the shortfall.
“CHS gets funding from the Government and the irregularity and untimely release of funds affects us.
“To maintain services health facilities are depending now on the individual church agencies but it cannot last.
“It is very stressful but we continue to pray and work.
“We understand that there is the Coronavirus (Covid-19) but the service delivery must be maintained.”