News Categories: Health and Sanitation

Nandi county is intensifying the use of technological innovations as it gears to rollout universal health coverage.

The department of health and sanitation is increasingly leveraging Health Management Information System (HMIS) to support decision making.

The department is also using the HIV Infant Tracking system HIT System in tracking HIV positive clients not linked to care.

The HIV Infant Tracking system is a tool developed in response to a simple need – the tracking of infants born to HIV-positive mothers.

By reducing months to days by tracking of specimens and reporting of results, the HIT System assists in insuring the early-initiation of ART for HIV-positive infants and to relieve social stigma for infants who have not contracted the virus.

Nandi county has also used technology to draw the correlation between accessibility of health facilities and its impacts on skilled delivery as envisaged by the World Health Organization under UHC.

Access to healthcare is a constitutional right and institutions like the University of Eldoret will soon mount tailor-made courses that can sustainably address the gaps in the healthcare sector.

The County Government of Nandi in collaboration with the University of Eldoret is seeking to promote access to affordable healthcare through training, research , consultancy and community outreach services in Nandi.

A Memorandum of  Understanding between the County Government of Nandi and The University of Kansas Medical Centre (KU-MED), Kansas City has began to bear fruits.

The University has installed a web-based system known as HIT System at the Kapsabet County Referral Hospital. This is an HIV-Infant Tracking system tool that is developed developed in response to a simple need – the tracking of infants born to HIV-positive mothers in under-resourced nations around the world.

HIT System ensures the early-initiation of ART for HIV-positive infants and to relieve social stigma for infants who have not contracted the virus. This is made possible because the number of days for tracking of specimens and reporting of results is reduced.

The Dean and Professor in the School of Health Professions, Prof. Abioudun Akinwuntan, visited Nandi and held a meeting with the CECM for Health and Sanitation Ruth Koech and other officials. Prof. Abioudun stated that the University will support the County’s efforts in improving its health systems.

In particular, Prof. Abioudun said areas of focus will be addressing communicable diseases, among other infectious diseases. Other areas of concern will include training and educational exchange programs. Immediate action points by KU-MED will be visitations, training and sustainability.

It will be remembered that Governor Stephen Sang during his visit to Kansas City in 2018, signed an MOU with The University of Kansas Medical Centre. The MOU is aimed at boosting cultural, educational and research cooperation and to improve health outcomes in specified areas of the Health Sector in the County.

The agreement was inked by the University of Kansas Chancellor, Douglas Girod and the University of Kansas Medical Centre Vice Chancellor, Robert Simari Klein for the University.

The agreement covers sponsorship activities for educational experiences, exchange programs for research personnel and graduate students, joint research, exchange of academic materials such as research reports and exchange of information especially in the medical field.

The agreement covers sponsorship activities for educational experiences, exchange programs for research personnel and graduate students. others include joint research, exchange of academic materials such as research reports and exchange of information especially in the medical field.

The County Government of Nandi on her part, will facilitate the University by allowing its personnel to use its health facilities for Medical Research purposes as well as provide policy and strategic direction on implementation of activities agreed upon by the two parties.

“Through collaborative, funded work on specific projects, we are certain that we’ll improve the health sector in our County,” said Koech.

The team toured Kapsabet County Referral Hospital and Prof. Abioudun thanked the county leadership for transforming and equipping the facility with modern equipments.

Present at the meeting were Chief Officer for Preventive and Promotive Services Sally Kemboi, Chief Officer Medical Services Dr. Paul Lagat, Director Administration and Operations Dr. Philemon Bureti among other County Health Management officials.

Health facilities in Nandi county are undergoing infrastructural upgrade to achieve the required status. This confirms Governor Sang’s commitment to ensure health services provided to the residents are of high standards.

The people of Nandi are entitled to quality, accessible and affordable healthcare and that’s why Governor Sang’s administration is keen on working towards achieving improved medical care in all health facilities.

Part of the upgrade at the Kapsabet county referral hospital include the installation of an oxygen plant, construction of doctor’s lounge, renovation of rehabilitative department, construction of ablution block in outpatient, renovation of MCH parking area and new rear entrance including drive ways, construction of covered walkways linking theatre II, maternity and Nyayo wards, refurbishment of Nyayo wards 7,8 and 9, renovation of outpatient and administration block, installation of elevated steel brazed water tank, cabling, renovation of filter and specialized clinic block and piping of the two theatres.

Newly constructed Doctor’s Lounge at KCRH

In Nandi hills hospital, the construction and installation of a new power back up generator is complete, cabling works and expansion of the outpatient is ongoing whereas the construction of the new mortuary is nearing completion.

Other facilities undergoing renovations are Soba river health centre, Potopoto dispensary, Chemase Health centre,  Meteitei sub county hospital, Chepyegoris, Kabiemit, Kipsamoite, Kapmamut, Mosombor, Koyo, Siksik, Kemeloi, Kobujoi, Boi, Samitui, Kibonze, Kaptumo, Tamboiyo, Masan, Kapyagan/Kibirbei, Kilibwoni, Taito, Ndubeneti, Mosoriot, Siwo, Setek, Kosoiywo, Taito, Ndubusat, Kamwega, Chepnyogoson, Chepterwai, Serem Health Centre, Kapsengere and Ol’Lessos Model Health Centre.

Ongoing construction of Oxygen Plant at KCRH

Plans are also underway to construct a modern Mother and Baby wing at the Kapsabet County Referral Hospital.

Governor Sang’s administration will continually improve the stature of health facilities in terms of infrastructure, equipment and human resources for health.

The ongoing upgrade and operationalization of other health facilities across the entire county will greatly improve the County’s capacity for disease diagnosis and treatment and reduce to a minimum, the long journeys patients currently have to endure while seeking specialized treatment in MTRH.

Nandi County joined the world to celebrate World Cancer Day at Sochoi Dispensary, Ol’Lessos Ward in Nandi Hills sub county with the theme “I am and I Will” aiming to reduce the global burden of cancer.

World Cancer Day is set aside to raise awareness of cancer and to encourage its prevention, detection, and treatment.

In her speech, the county executive member for health and Sanitation Ruth Koech said that as cancer affects everyone in different ways, everyone has the power to take various actions to reduce the impact that cancer has on individuals, families and communities.

The county executive committee member noted that the commonest cancers under review are; cancer of the breast, prostate cancer, cancer of gastrointestinal tract comprising of the esophagus, stomach, colon and rectum, cancer of the cervix, lymphomas and leukemia and cancer of the ovary. This emerging trend of cancer and non-communicable diseases poses a challenge to the government and her people due to the huge budgetary burden.

The CEC said that we can all take small steps to reduce the risk of developing cancer. Eating more fruits and vegetables, keeping active, watching alcohol intake, keeping a healthy weight and of course, quitting smoking, are all, cancer prevention in action.

“As a community we can educate people about the link between lifestyle behaviours and the cancer risk, dispel myths that lead to stigma and discrimination against people with cancer and encourage schools and work places to implement nutrition and physical activity policies that can help people to adopt healthy habits for life,” she added.

The campaign theme “I am and I Will” and highlights the fact that we can all play our part in reducing the burden of cancer. The day has a particular focus on prevention and survivorship.

The county government of Nandi has made cancer screening, diagnosis and care equally accessible for all no matter where you live, what income you earn, your ethnicity or gender.

To help Nandi residents access cancer diagnosis with ease the county government has installed a modern MRI machine, CT scan, X-ray and a modern immunology lab will be opened soon at the Kapsabet County Referral Hospital.

County Director for Medical Services Dr. David Bungei

Speaking at the occasion, the County Director for Medical Services Dr. David Bungei urged Nandi residents who have a risk factor to be tested regularly as early detection dramatically improves outcomes.

“On this day I ask you to take this opportunity to spread the word and raise the profile of cancer in people’s minds,” he said.

Mr. Birgen, a colon cancer survivor

Sammy Birgen, a colon cancer survivor urged residents to go for screening and those affected to speak out and be ambassadors. “Let’s speak about cancer in our language. We can help remove the fear and the stigma,” said Birgen.

Show your support by talking openly about cancer. Show your support by practicing a healthy lifestyle to reduce risks. Show your support by talking to others about cancer. We can all make a difference.

Also present was the Director Administration and Operations Dr. Philemon Bureti and Ol’Lessos Assistant County Commissioner.

32 health workers have completed a six day training on Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care (EMONC).

The training was funded by World Bank under the Transforming Health Systems for Universal Health Coverage (THS-UC).

The health staff that included Medical Officers, Nurses and Clinical Officers were drawn from the six Sub Counties.

CECM for Health and Sanitation Ruth Koech said the training is aimed at updating the health care workers on the current knowledge and skills on the care of pregnant women.
This includes the time of delivery, resuscitation of the mother and the newborn, management of obstetric hemorrhage including blood transfusions and ecclampsia.

Others are preecclampsia, maternal conditions in pregnancy, monitoring of mothers in labour using a partograph and also the management of pregnancy related complications including obstetric fistulas and post abortal care.

Koech said this will gradually help to reduce maternal and neonatal mortalities which currently stands at 448/100,000 live births and 21/1000 live births respectively as well as minimize the frequent referrals across the county.

Speaking during the official closing ceremony, the CECM said that utilization of skilled health care is effective in reduction of maternal and newborn morbidity and mortality.

“Sufficiently trained health workers can competently handle and manage obstetric complications. Health workers, despite having undergone a formal training, require regular refreshers to keep up to date with new, evidence-based information,” said Koech.

Knowledge and skills pre-test was done before the training and a similar post-test was administered after the training to assess the level of knowledge and skills of each participant.

In a bid to transform the the healthcare sector in Nandi, the County Government of Nandi is installing a CT scan machine at the Kapsabet County Referral Hospital.

The residents of Nandi suffering from cancer and heart disease have had to be referred to MTRH or KNH, for specialized treatment. But now such burdens are set to be a thing of the past, following the installation of the advanced body-scanning technology at the referral hospital.

Nandi Governor Stephen Sang is expected to open the facility before the end of February.

Kapsabet County Referral Hospital is among 36 other public health facilities that are being equipped with a CT scan machine, beneficiaries of a project being implemented by the Ministry of Health under the Managed Equipment Services (MES).

The County Government of Nandi, under its Universal Health Coverage programme, is seeking to take specialized medical services to the grassroots, saving residents the hustle of travelling either to MTRH or flying out of the country.

“Our running cost has been high at Kapsabet County Referral hospital due to lack of equipment for diagnosis. We are installing a CT scan to end this problem,” said Ruth Koech, CEC for Health and Sanitation.

She was speaking while inspecting the installation of the CT scan machine at KCRH.

The plan is mainly to revolutionize diagnosis of ailments, especially non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as cancer, at the earliest stage possible, and have modern systems of saving a patients’ data for easier follow-up and medication.

The CT Scan and MRI centre have fully trained radiographers and radiologists.

After the CT Scan is rolled out, patients will be attended through special X-ray tests that produce cross-sectional images of the body and MRI using X-rays and a computer.

If a patient has a condition like cancer, heart disease, or liver masses, CT Scans can spot it early enough or help doctors see any changes.

The technology also shows internal injuries and bleeding, such as those caused by a car accident, which ordinarily may not be seen via traditional X-ray.

With the new system, instead of travelling many kilometres to MTRH or KNH, or in some cases flying out of the country, patients will now be attended to at Kapsabet County Referral Hospital through the specialized machine that is currently being installed.

Doctors and nurses will have access to the relevant information they need to make well-grounded recommendations for patients’ treatment and management, with no need to refer a patient to another facility.

#DeliveringThePromise

Public Health Officers in Kapsabet town have seized peanut butter contaminated with aflatoxin.

The peanut butter, which was stored at several business outlets in Kapsabet town, was found to have aflatoxin levels twice the times above the regulatory limit of 10ppb.

Nandi County Executive in charge of Health and Sanitation Ruth Koech said that Public Health Officers (PHOs) took action after samples that had been taken for analysis at the Government Chemists in Nairobi proved that the Nuteez peanut butter was unfit for human consumption.

“PHOs picked samples from the different business outlets for analysis at the Kenya Government Chemist in Nairobi,” said Ruth.

The PHOs enforce the law using the Food, Drugs and Chemical substances Act. Cap 254 and Public Health Act Cap 242.

Public Health Officers Ray Sowon and Linus Kogo who led the operation and accompanied by County Head of Enforcement Christoper Biwot, urged Nandi residents with information of unscrupulous products to share the information for action.

Chief Officer for Preventive and Promotive Services Sally Kemboi urged all the Public Health Officers to move with speed and seize the contaminated products and further take necessary legal action.

On his part Chief Officer Medical Services Dr. Paul Lagat thanked the Public Health officers citing that this is one of the measures in countering the cancer menace in our County

Further to that the County Public Health officer Alfred Bichii said some business people were making money from products they that are unsafe and injurious to human health. “We are not going to be polite on this,” he warned.

“Traders should engage in genuine business. People who bring in products into the county should know what products they are buying,” he explained.

All PHOs across the county will continue inspecting all other products in markets and schools.

The County Government of Nandi through the department of health and sanitation, in partnership with World Bank under Transforming Health Services initiative have embarked on the training all Heath workers on Emergency Material and Neonatal Care (EMOC) in a bid to build their capacity for improvement of health service delivery and drastically reduce both maternal and Neonatal mortality rates in Nandi County.

“The aim of this training is to update the staff drawn from the various facilities across the county on the knowledge and skills on maternal and newborn care with the ultimate goal of reducing maternal and neonatal mortality”. Said the Nandi Hills Sub-County hospital Medical Superintendent Dr. Joseph Kangor who officiated the Opening of the five-day training workshop held at an Eldoret Hotel on Tuesday.

Nandi Hills Medical Superintendent Dr. Joseph Kangor. during the opening of EMOC training workshop held in Eldoret

The participants are medical officers, nurses and clinical officers drawn from the facilities all the six sub-counties of Nandi County

According to Dr. Kangor, the success in healthcare service delivery is best assessed using the WHO building blocks of leadership and governance, health workforce, health financing, technology commodities/drugs and improved service delivery.

According to the Kenya Demographic Health survey (KDHS 2014), Maternal mortality rate in Nandi County stands at 448/100,000 live births against the national figure of 510/100,000 live births while the infant mortality rate stands at 84/1000 against a national figure of 33.6/1000 live births.

Nandi CEC for Health and Sanitation, Ruth Koech today led Kaptumo, Nandi Hills and Meteitei Hospital Management teams in receiving drug supplies for the three sub county hospitals.

The CEC said that Governor Sang is committed to ensuring a sustained continuity of adequate and quality drug supply through its partnership with the KEMSA and that his promise to ensure good health for our people remains a priority to his administration.

“By the close of business today, all health facilities in Nandi will have received drugs for purposes of restocking our hospital pharmacies,” said Ruth.

Sounding a stern warning against mishandling of the drugs, the CEC called for a collective responsibility in guarding the drugs. She also advised the hospital management boards to keep good watch in order to ensure that Nandi residents and those beyond, get good health care services they deserve.

The CEC also inspected the ongoing renovations work in Kaptumo and the construction of Nandi hills morgue which is scheduled to be ready by end of February.

The county executive member further interacted with patients and got a chance to hear their concerns.

The county government of Nandi is striving to equip all sub-county hospitals with relevant machines so that most patients will be treated at sub county hospital and only serious cases will be referred.

She was accompanied by the Director Administration Dr. Philemon Bureti.

The county government of Nandi has today received a consignment of medicine and other commodities worth Shs. 34 million from KEMSA. The restocking process of health facilities across the County will continue throughout the week.

While overseeing the delivery of the consignments at Kapsabet County Referral hospital, Nandi Deputy Governor Dr. Yulita Cheruiyot affirmed that the supplies are timely as the county government is committed to manage stock outs. She further asserted that the County Government will continue prioritizing access to quality healthcare.

She added that Governor Sang’s administration is striving to expand Kapsabet County referral hospital, renovate and operationalize more facilities across the county.

Speaking at Kabiyet sub county hospital during the delivery of drugs at the facility, CEC for Health and Sanitation Ruth Koech said that the medical commodities KEMSA has delivered today, will guarantee that public health facilities in Nandi will offer the requisite medical care relieving patients suffering and restoring good health.