MAURICE OPETU: Loopholes in Linda Mama scheme responsible for deaths.

We really sympathise with the beneficiaries of such funds and as health workers, we have always advocated proper accountability and transparency in the use of such public cash.

As for maternity or labour, it comes with Linda Mama programme; this programme was a good idea, but the management failed.

In some places, you will find the monies meant for Linda Mama programme are sometimes diverted for other uses, like running hospitals and other health operations.

In most areas, you will find diversions to other uses and these are the loopholes that have been there and that is why we are failing to account for this money to the last shilling.

We have cases where other facilities have been created beyond Linda Mama so that this money is transferred for other services and to other accounts that are not directly under Linda Mama.

This is something we have talked about, but being that the management is said to be autonomous, we are not in a position to influence change.

Authorities have also not followed up well to see exactly the amount that has been used and what is left, what has been redirected and what has been left for the Linda Mama programme.

Most counties are operating different accounts for the Linda Mama allocation.

The same challenges have...