News Categories: Health and Sanitation

Hundreds of cleft lip and cleft palate patients will undergo corrective surgery at a free surgical camp in Nandi this week.

The event will take place Kapsabet County Referral Hospital and Nandi Hills County Hospital this week. It is sponsored by the county government in conjunction with Help a Child Face Tomorrow organization.

Over 100 patients from as far Kakuma and Lokichogio in Turkana county have been screened. Those who have turned up with ailments including cleft lips, goiter, broken limbs, prostate, spina bifida and other ailments.

Speaking while welcoming the medical doctors CECM for Health and Sanitation Ruth Koech thanked the partners for choosing to have the surgeries in Nandi County.

“On behalf of the county government of Nandi and the entire residents, I sincerely thank you for this. I feel happy when I see our young and elderly smile because of the free medical services,’’ she said.

“This free camp is in line with our universal healthcare ensuring no one should be left behind,” said Ruth Koech.

The no-cost medical clinic will run for a whole week, three days doing surgeries and the patients recuperating.

Samson Ereng’ who traveled from Kakuma in Turkana West, said it just shows that somebody is thinking about them and the less fortunate.

The exact cause of cleft lips isn’t known, but most experts suggest they may include a genetic predisposition as well as environmental issues such as drug and alcohol use, smoking, maternal illness, infections and lack of folic acid.

Affordable and accessible health care across the county is the number one agenda in Governor Stephen Sang’s administration. This is being realized through operationalization and equipping of new health facilities.

It was a sigh of relief for the residents of Kamamut  Village as the  County Executive Committee Member for Health and Sanitation Ruth Koech today officially opened Kapng’etuny Dispensary in Kurgung/Surungai ward, Mosop Sub County. The facility had stalled for over a decade.

The completion and the official opening of the facility will now ease the travel distance by the patients while seeking treatment. This is in line with the WHO standards of 5km distance between health centers.

Ruth Koech while addressing the residents urged them to embrace and make maximum use of the facility in managing disease prevalence. She also asked the residents to enroll themselves and family members to the NHIF cover.

“We will work round the clock to continue bringing services closer to the people and providing them with the essential services at the grassroots. I urge all the expectant women to attend antenatal clinics at our facilities to reduce the high infant mortality rates,” she added.

The Chief Officer for Preventive and Promotive Services Sally Kemboi on her part said that screening services are available at the dispensary and everyone  is called upon to make use of it and take a wellness check time to time.

“Lifestyle diseases which is a menace, should be controlled at all times. Blood pressure and blood sugar diseases are preventable by eating clean and exercising to keep healthy. We should also talk to our children in adopting good behavioral activities. In doing so we will be championing for a healthy society,” said Sally.

Dr. David Bungei, the Director Medical Services reiterated that provision of quality healthcare services is being offered across the county hospitals.

The area Member of County Assembly, Pius Murei, thanked governor Sang for working with him for the betterment of the citizenry.

Mzee Kimutai, one of the elders who’s suffering from a long term ailment,was immensely grateful to the County Government for bringing services closer, saying that it was a relieve for him and many in the catchment area.

The facility was also privileged to receive laboratory equipment as a donation from one of the residents in the village.

In attendance were Dr. Philemon Bureti, Director Administration, Planning and Operations, Sub County Administrator, Nehemiah Chemogos and William Melly, the area Ward Administrator.

The County Government of Nandi has embarked on an elaborate plan of improving health facilities across the county.

This will see a major infrastructure upgrade to transform health services at the Nandi Hills County Hospital.

The construction of a modern hospital complex at the facility is set to commence this month.

The upgrade project is also aimed at increasing bed capacity in other county hospitals among them Meteitei Maternity, and Chepterwai Nyayo Hospital.

A site handing over for the construction of Meteitei Maternity wing was done today.

Speaking during a working visit of Nandi Hills County Hospital, Nandi Governor Stephen Sang said the hospital was being expanded in order to decongest the Kapsabet County Referral Hospital.

A second theatre at the facility with new operating beds, lights and surgical instruments has been fitted. Installation of modern equipment including digital x-ray, image intensifier is also complete and operational.

“Through the Managed Equipment Services (MES), from the National Government, we have embarked on a major infrastructure upgrade of Nandi Hills County hospital which will be the second largest after the Kapsabet County Referral Hospital,” said Governor Sang.

Governor Sang said his administration was alive to the intermittent power supply at the hospital saying a 385KVA generator had been installed and installation of a three phase power supply of 610V rating has been fully fitted at the facility.

The Governor said his administration was committed to achieving Universal Health Coverage in the county.

He added that his Government would also ensure that health facilities were improved to enhance provision of quality healthcare.

Patients seeking services at the Kapsabet County Referral Hospital will soon enjoy a more hospitable environment once the renovation exercise is completed.

The facelift will focus on key outpatient departments and go a long way in providing a more patient- friendly environment in the spirit of blending hospitality with wellness.

Some of the works to be undertaken entails general repairs, tiling, roofing, plumbing and electrical works, and extension of customer care station as well as the installation of comfortable and modern seats in the waiting bay.

Earlier today, the county director for health Dr. David Bungei and his Administration, Operations and Planning counterpart Dr. Philemon Bureti received the modern Out-Patient seats at the facility.

Governor Sang’s government shall work to strengthen, equip, expand and modernize all health facilities in the county to assure residents of quality services.

The process of health planning needs to evolve by the use of ICT in healthcare delivery, distribution and public health decision making at every level. This will ensure delivery of right health services to right people at the right place as well as on right time. ICT has the capacity to influence all aspects of the health sector. For instance, in public health, management of information and communication processes are very crucial and are assisted or limited by the availability of information.

ICT helps patients become more involved in their own care. This becomes more significant in managing chronic conditions such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease etc. People in remote areas sacrifice a day’s work and wages in order to get to a doctor for minor ailments. In such cases, primary healthcare costs can be reduced by facilitating innovation in telemedicine.

Friends of Nandi USA through Fairwinds Baptist Church, Delaware earlier today made an important donation of 52 laptops to the Kapsabet County Referral Hospital which is aimed at supporting the infrastructural development of the Health Management Information System processes.

The donation and support is valued at more than Kshs 6million and consists of 52 laptops, funding of Karlel water project and painting of St. Mathews Septonok Primary School. All these supplies are in addition to the administrative software that this Hospital will be using. In addition to the transparency processes, it will also provide the opportunity for a better care for the patients who will spend less time following the necessary steps to carry out their exams.

While receiving the donations at the Kapsabet County Referral Hospital, Nandi Deputy Governor flanked by the CEC for Health and Sanitation Ruth Koech thanked the Fairwinds Church team led by Jack Lee for their support.

“The computers will be used throughout the hospital, including in the post-natal unit and in the records department,” said Ruth Koech.

The donated computers are part of a larger effort by Friends Of Nandi USA through the coordinated efforts of Health and Sanitation CEC Ruth Koech to help enhance Nandi County’s health care services.

The Fairwinds Baptist Church team also did charity work by painting St. Mathews Septonok Primary school and funded a water project in Karlel, Kosirai ward.

ICT ushers in an augmented administrative efficiency. For instance, administrative tasks such as filling forms, processing billing requests represent an important fraction of healthcare costs. Health IT can help to streamline these tasks and thus substantially reduce costs, as well as decrease the number of personal visits to doctors. ICT in healthcare can assist remote consultation, diagnosis and treatment through telemedicine.

Also present at the gifting ceremony were Chief Officer Preventive and Promotive Services Sally Kemboi, Chief Officer ICT Jonathan Misoi, Director of Operations and Planning Dr. Philemon Bureti, Director for Health Dr. David Bungei, Kapsabet County Referral Hospital Dr. Daniel Kemboi among other senior health and ICT officers.

Nandi County Governor Stephen Sang, has today paid an impromptu visit to Kapsabet County Referral Hospital to check on its operations and its preparedness in handling emergencies.

The County boss interacted with patients and the public and ascertained  the quality of services offered from them. He also visited the pharmacy and drug stores to ensure there was sufficient drugs and non-pharmaceuticals in the facility.

He commended the doctors, nurses and other health professionals for offering efficient services under the Universal  Health Coverage program and encouraged them to keep up their efforts.

In a bid to decongest the health facility, the governor noted that proper patient referral system are being put in place to ensure all cases are handled at the facility and the ongoing construction of Mother and Child Unit which is an expansion of the MCH.

Furthermore, Sang called on the Members of County Assembly and all leaders to put their differences aside and work with him for the sake of delivering development to the residents of Nandi.

Members of the County Assembly led by Deputy Speaker Wilson Sang said they will work closely with the Executive and hospital staff to deliver the best services to it’s citizenry.

“As a government we will ensure that necessary works are done to ensure that the hospital delivering quality and affordable services to all, which includes, thorough structural renovations,” said the governor.

The governor also visited the data center being established within the facility  stated that his government is keen to strengthen the health information system through automation of operations through the Health Management Information Systems (HMIS)  amid ongoing training to ensure that efficacy and effectiveness in service delivery is realized.

Other areas he visited include the CT center, X-ray Department, Renal Unit and MRI Center. He challenged the medical staff to ensure that they better the county health sector and assured them of his support.

Nandi County Governor Stephen Sang has called on residents to embrace government health facilities while seeking medical attention for themselves or their relatives.

Speaking during a tour of Kobujoi dispensary in Kobujoi Ward to asses the progress in the construction works at the facility, the governor said his government had invested heavily in the health sector.

Governor Sang, however stated that the investments will only count if residents maximize on their visits to the facilities at all levels. He called on them to make use of equipment such as the CT Scanner and the MRI machine which were initially unavailable in the entire region.

The governor also called on residents to enroll for NHIF cover.

“We have rebuilt, expanded and equipped our major hospitals across the county,” added the governor.

“We will keep the pace, move our county forward and ensure that Nandi County is a much better place,” he noted.

All these developments are geared towards fulfilling the governors’ pledge of providing Universal and accessible Health Care to the people of Nandi.

He was accompanied by Health and Sanitation CEC Ruth Koech and the Director for Administration and Planning Dr. Philemon Bureti.

Health facilities in Nandi County have received a major boost following the arrival of a consignment of drugs and other pharmaceuticals worth KShs 27 million from Mission for Essential Drugs and Supplies (MEDS).

Kapsabet County Referral Hospital, today started receiving the consignments of medicine and other supplies. The restocking process to level four hospitals and other levels of health facilities across the County will continue throughout the week.

While receiving the life saving consignments, County Pharmacist Dr. Andrew Kisang said all the hospitals in the county will be equipped with the necessary drugs to be able to serve residents without delay.

Dr. Kisang said the county has over 149 facilities that were serving residents in far flung areas adding that they are committed to ensure residents get quality health services in their villages.

Mothers in Nandi county have been urged to give birth in health facilities to reduce the high child and maternal mortality.

Nandi CEC for Health and Sanitation Ruth Koech cautioned mothers against giving birth at home as this would encourage unnecessary prolonged labour pains and other birth related complications.

In Kenya, hospital care has been confronted by workforce challenges, changing consumer expectations and demands, fiscal constraints, increasing demands for access to care, a mandate to improve patient centered care, and issues concerned with levels of quality and safety of health care.

Nandi CEC for health and sanitation Ruth Koech, today opened a three days Conference for Nurses and Healthcare Professionals at the University Of Eastern Africa, Baraton.

Participants follow proceedings at the conference

The conference whose theme is “Together is Better: Expert Clinical Practice and Quality Focused Leaderhip” is being held in the county for the first time.

The Health and Sanitation CEC member acknowledged that Public Health Nurses are equipped to prevent disease and handle emerging diseases and therefore are strategic actors in determining the quality of health care services and the attainment of Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

She called for targeted focus on thematic issues of concern for the nursing profession in particular improvement of health care delivery through skills development, quality of care and patient safety.

In her address, Edna Tallam Kimaiyo, Registrar/CEO, Nursing Council of Kenya said that we must come up with future strategies aimed at addressing barriers in clinical leadership to enhance expert clinical practice and quality focused leadership. That will directly translate to better patient outcomes and provision of quality health services.

“We must come up with future strategies aimed at addressing barriers in clinical leadership to enhance expert clinical practice and quality focused leadership. That will directly translate to better patient outcomes and provision of quality health services,” she said.

The Registrar/CEO noted that by clinicians moving to leadership positions and more experienced clinicians taking up the mantle in clinical mentoring, and by improving clinical healthcare leadership, there would be and improvement in patient care.

UEAB VC Prof. Philip Maiyo

The 3-day conference, whose theme is “Together is Better: Expert Clinical Practice and Quality Focused Leadership”, aims at educating and enhancing participants knowledge in regards to current trends in nursing practice, nursing education, and nursing leadership with content designed to promote personal professional self-reflection, improved clinical practice, consideration of education opportunities, and improved leadership functionality.

University of Eastern Africa, Baraton VC Prof. Philip Maiyo called for targeted focus on thematic issues of concern for the nursing profession in particular improvement of health care delivery through skills development, quality of care and patient safety.

Dr. Lydia Andrew, a US based nurse observed that, targeting the world including Kenya is facing new global health challenges such as Haemorrhagic fevers and new viral strains, environmental pollution, natural disasters and a growing trend of chronic diseases.

The Nursing and Healthcare professionals’ conference will offer a wide platform to share vital and recent innovations in the arena of public health, family nursing and healthcare. The conference is intended to provide a special platform for professionals, academicians, researchers, and students working in the arena to deliberately exchange opinions and their understandings in front of large transnational listeners.

Also in attendance was the Uasin Gishu County CEC for Health, Dr. Everlyne Rotich.