The Benefits Cuban Medical Specialists Will Enjoy in Kenya

100 Cuban medical specialists expected in Kenya are set to enjoy a range of benefits from the 47 county governments.

While the national government will be responsible for paying the doctors' salaries, county governments have been tasked with ensuring the doctors work smoothly upon their arrival in the country.

A memo seen by Kenyans.co.ke revealed that counties would be responsible for the doctors' housing, transport and security.

"Moreover, county governments need to prepare to take up these specialists including their housing, transport and security before the doctors arrive and are deployed to the county hospitals," the memo read in part.

County Secretaries, as well as County Executive Committee (CEC) members for health, were further invited to a consultative meeting scheduled for April 18.

[caption caption="New mothers at the maternity ward of the Mbagathi District Hospital in Nairobi"][/caption]

CoG Health Representative Meshack Ndolo who spoke to Kenyans.co.ke confirmed the memo's authenticity noting that it had been sent out to county health officials across the country.

"It's authentic, it was just sent out. The meeting is necessary to ensure the deployment of the specialists is smooth allowing them to begin working as soon as possible," he stated.

President Uhuru Kenyatta reached a deal to import 100 specialists from Cuba to counter the shortage in county hospitals.

50 Kenyan doctors are to be sent to Cuba for specialist training as part of the partnership agreement.

The Doctors' Union welcomed the move but demanded that the government first employ 1,200 unemployed Kenyan doctors first.

[caption caption="President Uhuru Kenyatta during his trip to Cuba"][/caption]