News Categories: Health and Sanitation

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.

As Nandi gears up to achieve universal health coverage by 2022, the county government is well on its way, as more and more health facilities are being operationalized to offer the much needed services.

Universal health coverage (UHC) means every person irrespective of where they live and their socioeconomic status, has access to good quality health services without having to go through any hardship.

The County Government of Nandi through the leadership of Governor Stephen Sang is committed to improving healthcare to facilitate the realization of the Big 4 agenda.

County Health Officials and officers from the Governors Delivery Unit visited the Kapsabet County Referral Hospital to inspect the ongoing projects. These include the ongoing renovations at Nyayo wards, construction of the Doctor’s lounge, renovation of the kitchen, completion of the emergency area and walkways linking theatre, construction of an Oxygen plant, completion of the new Dental unit, the maternal triage area, piping of theatres, renovation of the rehabilitative department, OPD filter clinic and administration block.

The team later held a consultative meeting with contractors doing the works. It was resolved that all works will be completed in three weeks time to aid in he delivery of the much needed services at the facility.

Good health is a prerequisite for enhanced economic growth and poverty reduction and a precursor to realization of the TugaTai Big 4 Agenda. Further, the Constitution under the Bill of Rights, access to equitable healthcare is a right to every Kenyan.

Improving health service coverage and health outcomes depends on the availability, accessibility, and capacity of health workers to deliver quality people-centred integrated care.

Against this background, the Health Sector is re-positioning itself to fulfill the expectations of the Nandi people through improved health infrastructure and service delivery systems.

Principal Health Administrative Officer Philip Kogo addressing the new health staff

Earlier today, the newly recruited Medical Officers, Clinical Officers, Nurses and Pharmaceutical technologists were posted to different health facilities across the county to offer the much needed services.

Health facilities in Nandi County has received medical commodities  boost worth Ksh. 22m following the delivery of drugs to the county.

The consignment was received by Nandi Deputy Governor Dr. Yulita Cheruiyot and the Health and Sanitation CEC Ruth Koech. The consignment will be distributed to health facilities across the County.

Nandi County Acting County Secretary and Head of Public Service Dr. Francis Sang has made major changes affecting medical superintendents, clinical officers, nursing officers and hospital administrators in a move meant to enhance management of hospitals in the county.

The most notable change is that of the acting county director of health Dr. Joseph Kangor, who will now also act as the Medical Superintendent at Kapsabet County Referral Hospital.

The new Medical Superintendent at Kabiyet Sub County Hospital is Dr. Daniel Kemboi. He will also coordinate medicals services at Chepterwai sub county hospital. Dr. Kemboi has been the ADMS/MOH at Nandi hills hospital.

Former Kapsabet medical superintendent Dr. Shadrack Kemei will be a Physician at the Department of Medicine, Kapsabet county referral hospital.

Dr. Erick Terer moves to Kapsabet County Referral Hospital as a medical officer, department of medicine. He was the medical superintendent at Mosoriot sub county hospital as well as the MOH Chesumei sub county.

Benjamin Arusei is the new Clinical Officer Incharge, Kapkangani Health Centre.

Daniel Keitany has been moved from Kapkangani to Mosoriot as the Clinical Officer Incharge.

Isaac Korir moves from Kabiyet to Nandi Hills sub county hospital as the Clinical Officer Incharge.

The changes also will see Charles Kotut heading to Kabiyet as the Clinical Officer Incharge and tasked to establish an ENT Clinic.

Patrick Kenei will remain at Kapsabet County referral hospital as the Clinical Officer Incharge/Clinical Oncologist and also the In-charge Clinical Internship Program.

Susan Biwott becomes the new Nursing Officer Incharge at Mosoriot sub county hospital.

Esther Murgor is the new Nurse Incharge Maternity department at Mosoriot sub county hospital.

Asenah Tarus moves from Mosoriot to the Kapsabet county referral hospital as the deputy nursing officer Incharge.

The changes will see Keneth Kandie moving from Chepterwai to Kamasai dispensary, Caroline Bore from Nandi hills to Ol’lessos, whereas Anne Yego from Ol’lessos to Chemuswa. Judy Jepkemboi heads to Nandi hills from Chemuswa.

“The government continues to engage in reforms as it works towards fulfilling its mandate of saving lives and offering the much needed services to Nandi residents while at the same time creating a conducive working environment for our health workers,” said Dr. Sang while announcing the changes.

Meanwhile, changes have also been made within the hospital administrators.

Obed Limo is the new Hospital Administrator at Kapsabet county referral hospital. He was the administrator at Kabiyet hospital.

Nicholas Korir has been moved from Kapsabet to Mosoriot in the same capacity.

Zeddy Jelagat is the new administrator at Chepterwai sub county hospital. She has been moved from Mosoriot.

The changes have been termed as routine, only meant to enhance service delivery.

In the changes, Noah Lagat moves to Kabiyet from Cheepterwai.

Also moved in the changes are Judy Chepkoech, a CHEW at Meteitei sub county hospital who heads to Koilot Community unit in the same capacity as a CHEW. Kennedy Terer who is a dentist has been transferred from Meteitei to Kaptumo. Nicholas Terer, a physiotherapist moves from Meteitei to Nandi hills.

The changes takes effect immediately.

Present during the announcement were Dr. Paul Lagat, Chief Officer Medical Services and the acting director of health Dr. Joseph Kangor.