A host of Members of Parliament across the political devide have backed Dr Deborah Mulongo Barasa to succeed at the Ministry of Health following her nomination by President William Ruto in the recently named new Cabinet.
The legislators led by Mwingi West representative Charles Ngusya Nguna alias CNN said Dr Barasa’s wealth of experience will be instrumental to spearhead key reforms at Afya house towards realisation of Universal Health Coverage.
Speaking on the sidelines of Tuesday Parliamentary proceedings,Nguna assured the nominee and entire MoH team of his maximum support should she be approved. He said Parliament is critical in supporting the health of the people they represent by reviewing legislation once implemented, debating and approving budgets, holding governments to account, and operationalizing county,national commitments.
“Coming from the medical world she has a chance to reform the industry because she knows challenges that have been bedeviling the sector. I will support her appointment and rally for proper legislative frameworks that impact positively to the overall wellbeing of health in the country. As an arm of Government, we are expected to play a unique and powerful role in achieving health security preparedness through our various responsibilities: law-making, oversight, budgetary allocation, and citizen representation ” he affirmed.
His comments were echoed by Khwisero legislator Christopher Aseka who lauded the head of state for picking a professional doctor for the docket that is currently in need of appropriate policies aimed at changing the health landscape in Kenya.
“She’s a reputable doctor.Governments in overseas countries go for specialist professionals across the board.She should use her wide range of knowledge and skills to increase hospital capacities, capital,infrastructure and funding by the statutory health insurance (SHI)” noted Aseka
While appearing last week on Thursday before Speaker Moses Wetangula led Vetting Appointments Committee,she emphasised on her passion about improving the quality of life and health outcomes for people affected by communicable and non-communicable diseases and empowering health workers and stakeholders with the knowledge and skills to prevent and control diseases.
“My work and capacity at an international level has been policy advisory through giving strategic direction and technical mechanisms to various countries in the afro-region.I have established sustainable programs in the region, supported member countries in developing and implementing national action plans and offered technical guidance on global policies and guidelines. This will form the basis of what we seek to achieve at the Ministry” stated Dr Barasa.
Dr Barasa who will take over from Susan Nakhumicha should her nomination sail through is a medical doctor specializing in internal medicine and infectious diseases and has over 15 years’ experience having also worked with World Health Organisation where she joined in 2020.
The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) through its Secretary General Dr. Davji Atellah endorsed her nomination and urged her to prioritize addressing internship appointment standoff as well as the matter of the Social Health Authority which was recently rejected by the court.
As a physician, she is expected to be pivotal in the key themes including the changing healthcare workforce, digital and technological innovation, service delivery, complex conditions and changing patient demographics.
