World Health Organization Suspends Funding to Kenya's Ministry of Health
The World Health Organization (WHO) says that it has cut off all funding to the Ministry of Health after the Ministry failed to account for Sh11.2 million.
But the ministry says that it disbursed the money from WHO to the 47 counties for Guinea worm surveillance and advocacy initiatives, adding that it is the counties who wave not accounted for the cash.
The Director of Medical Services in the Ministry, Jackson Kioko pointed an accusing fingers on the counties. “Today, very few counties have submitted expenditure returns for the funds they received and only 20 counties have submitted activity reports. Subsequently, WHO has suspended further disbursement of funds for the Ministry of Health’s planned activities,” Kioko said.
Wrangles between the Ministry and the counties have taken center stage in recent times, with experts warning that this could possibly bring the health sector to its knees.
The counties turned away auditors from the Ministry of Health, with governors stating that the counties had audit systems in place and only Kenya National Audit Office had the mandate to carry out the exercise.
The withdrawal of the funding by the World’s health body comes barely a month after the United States suspended its funding to the ministry arguing that the Ministry failed to comply with guidelines and account for part of the funds.
The Kenyan health sector heavily relies on donor funds from institutions such a World Health Organization to meet its financial needs.
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