The Ministry of ICT, Innovations, and Youth affairs has kicked off the digitization of health facilities across the country to ensure effective and efficient service delivery.
Principal Secretary Jerome Ochieng says the government plans to have all the 369 level four to level six hospitals interconnected through the internet by the end of next year.
Speaking in Siaya Town when he paid a courtesy call to area county commissioner, Michael ole Tialal before touring ICT installations in the county, the PS said it was the objective of the government to mainstream ICT at the grassroots to enable the public access government services online.
As part of the program, Ochieng said, the ministry has already installed Local Area Network in 50 public hospitals across the country.
Ochieng challenged the youth to take advantage of the ICT infrastructure to improve themselves, adding that the government had opened more opportunities through various digital platforms.
The PS said it was the government’s objective to mainstream ICT at the grassroots hence investment in infrastructure development to enable the public access government services online.
“Our strategy is to make Kenya a leader in the digital economy,” he said adding that the government is committed to the development of digital skills.
Siaya Governor, Cornel Rasanga hailed the close cooperation with the national government on youth and ICT matters.
Rasanga advised the youth to take advantage of the digitization to access government procurement opportunities.
On the Kaazi Mtaani program, the government has entered an agreement with the mobile service provider Safaricom to suspend the deduction of mobile loan debts popularly known as Fuliza for 48 hours to enable the youth under the program to receive their pay.
The PS says the government, on the realization that quite a number of the 283,000 youths under the Kazi Mtaani program were indebted to Safaricom, indulged the company, which agreed to give a 48-hour waiver from the time payment is made to the participants.
“Before you cry of non-payment, please ensure that you do not have a Fuliza debt as the company will automatically deduct the money after the 48-hour waiver period elapses,” he said.
