Thirteen health workers in Elgeyo Marakwet awarded by the Presidential Beyond Zero national awards were feted in Iten on Monday in a ceremony graced by Governor Alex Tolgos.
Best performing health facilities in the county alongside 23 staff proceeding on retirement were also feted for rendering diligent service.
Speaking during the function, Governor Tolgos praised the First lady Margaret Kenyatta for her efforts to improve maternal health across the country through the beyond zero program.
Through the program, under Tolgos’ administration, 28 students under the Vulnerable and Marginalized groups in Elgeyo Marakwet County benefited from scholarships to study Nursing.
Out of these, Tolgos said, 13 of them were already absorbed into the County government workforce while 15 were engaged in volunteering in local health facilities.
The fully equipped Beyond Zero Mobile Clinic courtesy of the First Lady was of great help to the People of Elgeyo Marakwet, said the Governor.
Mercy Mokeira, an official of First Lady’s Beyond Zero Secretariat, said the initiative was a game-changer in recognizing “beyond zero” maternal and child mortalities in the health sector.
Governor Tolgos also praised the officers heading for retirement, for their dedicated service adding that transformation of healthcare in Elgeyo Marakwet amongst other achievements in his development scorecard earned him re-election.
“In fact, I recall when we first came to office in 2013, the first thing I did was to convert Sh.6 Million meant for governor to settle and instead used it to transform Iten County Referral Hospital,” Tolgos
The governor said over the years, his priority was the healthcare of the citizens.
“We now have a dialysis machine, New Born Unit, CT scan, amongst other proper working equipment,” said the Governor.
Tolgos whose administration has also established a multi-million mother and Baby Unit under construction said: “I hope before I exit the office, we’ll have opened Mother and Baby Unit.”
Deputy County Commissioner Julius Maiyo challenged Civil servants in the county to ensure they planned for their retirement because it was inevitable.
“You have to also develop good public relations with your neighbors in the society so that you don’t suffer isolation during retirement,” advised the administrator.
Dr. Selly Kimosop, the deputy Chairperson County Public Service Board (CPSB), challenged departments across the county government to ensure that there were succession management plans in their respective functions for purposes of easing transition in the event of retirement or natural attrition.
Every first Tuesday of every month, the employment bureau holds a Human Resource clinic where employees visit the board for their personal inquiries, said Kimosop.
