News Categories: Health and Sanitation

MASS DISTRIBUTION CAMPAIGN OF LONG-LASTING INSECTICIDAL NETS (LLINs) FOR TWO SUB COUNTIES IN NANDI SET TO COMMENCE

Having continuous coverage of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) is a key component of malaria elimination.

The Department of Health and Sanitation is set to commence a Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLINs) distribution campaign as part of efforts to combat malaria.

LLINs campaign is an initiative of the National Ministry of Health, led by the National Malaria Control Programme. It targets 22 high-burden malaria counties, including two Sub Counties of Tinderet and Aldai in Nandi, and aims to distribute 15.3 million nets countrywide.

Speaking during a stakeholders meeting held in Kapsabet, County Malaria Coordinator Mr Japhet Rutto highlighted the collective commitment among various agencies to ensure the success of the mass LLIN distribution campaign, scheduled to commence in two weeks time within targeted malaria endemic sub counties of Tinderet and Aldai.

“The campaign’s objective is to achieve universal coverage in malaria-endemic and epidemic-prone areas in the county,” noted Mr Rutto.

County Health Promotion Officer Jane Samoei highlighted the critical role stakeholders play in monitoring the proper use of the distributed nets, stressing the importance of raising community awareness in the fight against malaria.

Stakeholders, including representatives from religious and community groups, persons living with disabilities, and national and county administrations, have been sensitized to raise awareness in their respective areas ahead of the distribution exercise.

The CEC Member for Health and Sanitation Ruth Koech earlier today paid an unscheduled visit to three major healthcare facilities in the County. She visited the Kapsabet County Referral, Mosoriot County and Kabiyet Sub County Hospitals.

Speaking during the visit, the CECM said “We are committed to putting in place sound health systems that ensure that our people access affordable comprehensive care ranging from disease prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation.”

She lauded the contributions of healthcare workers to qualitative healthcare delivery in Nandi, saying that they are critical in the health sector and their contributions cannot be overemphasised.

“It is quite evident that the present administration of Governor Stephen Sang is passionate about the health and wellbeing of residents of Nandi County, as it is a key component of the developmental agenda for his administration. All healthcare workers are important to the County Government and will continue to receive maximum attention”, she added.

In accordance with the County Department of Health and Sanitation’s mandate of improving public health services in Nandi, over 500 residents of Kaplamai location, benefitted from a free medical outreach programme at the Kabongwa Market in Emgwen Sub County.

The programme was organized in partnership with the Kapsabet County Referral Hospital, White Crescent Hospital, Lifecare Hospital, Reale Hospital, St Luke Hospital, Equity Afya, Vertical Medical Center, Apha Hill Hospital and Rapha Hospital.

A beneficiary of the outreach and a resident of Kaplamai, Mr Kosgei, thanked the County Government of Nandi for the initiative of bringing health care services closer to the people.

“I decided to take advantage of the opportunity to get screened. I understand it is important to go for routine checks to enable early detection of diseases, but most people like me find it difficult to leave our tea farms to go to the hospital.

Mr Kosgei was screened for hypertension, random blood glucose, and had his BMI measurement.

Another beneficiary, Mrs Judith, residing in Kabongwa, who was at the market to buy groceries commended the intiative saying the outreach gives an opportunity for the everyone to know their health status.

She thanked the organisers for brining the services closer to the people and at no cost.

“I have not gone for a routine check in a while. It is a good initiative that will make many people know their health status as most people wait to go to the hospital only when they start having symptoms”, she says.

Mrs Judith got screened for breast cancer and had her blood pressure, random blood sugar, and BMI checked.

Likewise, one of the boda boda operators Mr Kipchirchir, who also benefited from the outreach, took it upon himelf to raise awareness about the free medical programme.

Using his position in the area, Kipchirchir advises other traders especially the youth and women, to check their health status and present their children for vaccination to protect everyone.

At the end of the outreach, over 500 beneficiaries from campaign and children were also not left out as over 37 received at least a vaccine antigen.

The County PHC Coordinator Sally Kemboi, says the county department of health is always striving to keep the county safe.

“The medical camp is an opportunity to motivate action to tackle the health challenges of today and tomorrow,” she noted.

“The free medical outreach targeted the vulnerable members of the community, particularly women and children as well as the aged who cannot afford the cost of medical attention,” explains Lilian Boit, the County Clinical Officer.

Some of the services rendered included Routine Immunization (RI), routine health screening (Blood Pressure, Random Blood Sugar, Body Mass Index as well as health education).

Present at the event were Philip Kogo, Director Health Administration, Alfred Bichii, the County Public Health Officer among other officials.

The County Government of Nandi has commenced the construction of Kapkeri Dispensary in Tindiret Ward, Tinderet Sub County, marking a significant development in the county’s healthcare infrastructure.

This initiative is part of Governor Sang’s health priority plan highlighting the county’s commitment to enhancing healthcare services and achieving World Health Organization (WHO)’s recommended 5 km distance to the nearest health facility.

The development of Kapkeri Dispensary represents a significant investment in the communities’ health and well-being, now and into the future.

The County Government of Nandi is taking action to help people who are facing challenges accessing care in rural and remote areas. The dispensary will provide expanded access to quality healthcare closer home and help the residents get the services they need.

Integrated health services with an emphasis on primary care are needed for effective primary health care and achievement of universal health coverage. The key elements of high quality primary care are first-contact access, continuity, comprehensiveness, coordination, and person-centredness.

The Department of Health and Sanitation, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MoH), has completed a baseline survey across the entire county in preparation for the implementation of the Primary Care Network (PCN).

Ruth Koech, CECM Health and Sanitation

Six teams conducted interviews with facility users, community health services staff, and facility in-charges to assess the current state of primary healthcare in the six Sub-counties.

Today, the County Health Management Teams and Sub County Management Teams converged in Kapsabet to present feedback on Primary Health Care (PCN) baseline survey.

The PCN Strategy, developed by the Ministry of Health, is designed to foster a more resilient healthcare system, by prioritizing primary healthcare and improving coordination between health facilities.

Sally Kemboi, County PHC Coordinator

Against this backdrop, the Government’s decision to implement a comprehensive PHC strategy reflects a proactive response to the evolving healthcare landscape. The strategy is designed to address not only the immediate health concerns but also the systemic issues that hinder the delivery of quality healthcare services.

The Ministry of Health is partnering with the County Department of Health and Sanitation in rolling out Primary Health Care Networks (PCNs), a “hub-and-spoke” approach toward effective implementation of the Primary Health Care Strategy.

Speaking at the event, the CEC Member for Health and Sanitation Ruth Koech said “The PCN model brings person-centered services closer to communities and helps to ensure the continuity and sustainability of care.”

Multisectoral participants

Each PCN is composes of a referral facility and several other primary health care facilities established to deliver access to PHC services for patients and to coordinate with other hospitals. This model improves the overall operational efficiency of the health facilities and emphasizes the needs of the population with the community as the entryway to the health system.

With this prioritization of primary health care revitalization and crucial investment in community health promoters, Nandi County is now taking a bold and critical direction and steps towards attaining sustainable UHC.

Also present during the feedback presentation meeting were the County Director of Health Dr David Bungei, Director for Administration Philip Kogo, Ministry of Health Officials, County Primary Health Care Coordinator Sally Kemboi among other officials.

Changing health outcomes requires action at all levels – upstream, midstream, and downstream aimed at mproving the provider-consumer relationship and the quality of services.

Today, the County Department of Health and Sanitation sensitized health workers drawn from Mosop and Nandi Hills Sub Counties with the aim of ensuring improved access to quality healthcare services.

Participants drawn from Mosop and Nandi Hills Sub Counties

Speaking at the event, the County Director for Health Dr David Bungei said, “As we work together, I urge everyone to share their experiences, challenges and best practices. By learning and supporting each other, we can improve our pursuit of excellence, as our combined efforts will undoubtedly lead to better health care service delivery and a more efficient public service.”

Dr David Bungei, CDH

The sensitization enabled a reflective thinking process among the health care providers, allowing a frank discussion, irrespective of the type of health worker.

The result was a renewed commitment to work, with health providers expressing better motivation and willingness to examine their own practices critically in an effort to improve the quality of care. The participatory process also enabled the providers to identify many constraints in the provision of adequate health services and how these affected their work in general and their relationship with clients, and to develop practical plans.

Mr Bwaley, County HIV/AIDS Coordinator

Sharpening the sharp end and sensitizing the blunt end are two complementary approaches to improving patient safety in the healthcare industry. By focusing on improving the skills, knowledge, and expertise of frontline workers and raising awareness among administrative and support staff about the impact their decisions and actions have on patient care, healthcare organizations can create a culture of safety that benefits everyone. By involving all our staff members in quality improvement initiatives, establishing clear lines of communication, and promoting a culture of continuous improvement, the department of health will work towards the common goal of providing safe and effective care to all patients.

Enrollment and retention of girls in schools is a great initiative, the inclusion of women in peace building and decision making forums, that once had been a preserve for men only is becoming a norm.

Men have been brought on board to defend women’s rights fighting for sensitive issues like Gender Based Violence (GBV), forced circumcision of girls (FGM) and early forces marriages which is slowly being ebbed out.

Emphasizing the active involvement of women in peace talks has played a significant role where they have demonstrated their commitment in bringing communities together, promoting dialogue and addressing the root causes of conflict.

Collaborations between The County Government and other organizations has been welcomed many at times. The Rural Women Peace Link (RWPL) is an organization by women seeking to address the challenges of sexual violence (early pregnancies, early marriage, and forced marriage) through mentorship of girls across the region including Nandi, Elgeyo Marakwet, Turkana and Uasin Gishu.

Today, the Rural Women Peace Link held a round table meeting with the County Health Management Team focusing on ways to mentor young girls both in and out of school, which will expand their chances of success in education, offering support on personal growth, health education and career development.

“We seek to establish a good network of young women mentors who promote mentorship of young girls within our community in Nandi, our dream is to create a pool of young successful girls who after completing school will seek opportunities in the community.“ Said Seline Korir, The Technical Support Advisor for RWPL.

She added that creating a safe space for girls rescued from adverse conditions should always be a priority. Their voices should be heard and protected. Talking about GBV which has become repressed in the community, should be considered a discussion on the table.

The last few years have seen a distinct rise in CSR activities in Nandi. Thanks to the collective and determined efforts of corporates and Healthcare CSR Partners, social development especially in rural areas where the need is immense, looks very promising.

These initiatives encompass a wide range of activities that include, infrastructure development, Health Education, outreaches, awareness about Sanitation and Hygiene and Healthcare.

Corporate Social Responsibility Healthcare in rural areas ensures a healthier and more equitable future for rural Nandi County.

In addition to the government’s role in providing healthcare services to the public, companies also have a pivotal role to play in advancing healthcare. This collaborative effort between the county government and private sector holds immense potential for enhancing the overall healthcare landscape in the county.

Through strategic partnership with the County Government of Nandi, Kaimosi Tea Estates has constructed a modern Laboratory at Koibem Dispensary in Chepkumia Ward to enhance healthcare provision.

The new lab constructed by Kaimosi Tea Estates

Speaking during a visit to the facility, the CEC Member for Health and Sanitation Ruth Koech emphasized that achieving UHC demands a collective effort and called for more partners to come forth and collaborate with the county government.

She lauded Kaimosi Tea Estate for its invaluable partnership, which complements the government’s healthcare efforts significantly through healthcare infrastructure.

The CEC Member observed that these actions exemplify the company’s commitment to Public-Private Partnerships, advancing healthcare in the Nandi County.

“The County Government of Nandi deeply appreciates such partnerships and will continue to leverage them to propel the county towards Universal Health Coverage,” affirmed the CECM.

Pooling Resources for Healthcare Transformation

Collaborative partnerships among corporations not only stimulate greater innovation but also pave the way for replicable models and the synergistic utilization of each company’s unique strengths and expertise in healthcare. Through collaboration, companies can amplify their individual capabilities, pooling collective intelligence for the betterment of healthcare in Nandi. This collaborative ethos serves as a powerful catalyst in confronting the complexities of healthcare challenges.

CSR has created opportunities for corporate participation in the healthcare sector, yielding numerous benefits for citizens, particularly those in remote areas. Through strategic partnerships and targeted initiatives, corporations have the potential to play a pivotal role in advancing Nandi County’s healthcare system, ultimately leading to enhanced well-being and improved health outcomes for all.

The evolution of microbial pathogens able to resist antimicrobial treatment is one of the most pressing public health crises. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major challenge to global health.

For the past few decades, AMR has been a growing threat to effective treatment of an ever-increasing range of infections caused by bacteria, parasites, viruses and fungi. Antimicrobial usage in animals, humans and agriculture results in spreading of antimicrobial residues into aquatic and terrestrial environment. AMR affects not only human health but also other sectors such as animal health, agriculture, food security, water and sanitation and economic development.

There is need to minimize the health, social and economic impact of antimicrobial resistance. To avert this disaster, the County Department of Health and Sanitation carried an a AMR sensitization for healthcare workers from Mosop and Nandi Hills Sub County, to create a better understanding of Antimicrobial Resistance from a Health perspective through raising awareness and understanding on antimicrobial use, resistance prevention, and containment through effective communication and training, strengthening knowledge and evidence on antimicrobial use and resistance.

Dr David Bungei, County Director of Health

The sensitization contributed to the creation of better understanding and raising awareness on antimicrobial use, resistance prevention, and containment, which is a key target area in the county’s plan to tackle AMR.

The sensitization sessions helped the healthcare workers put this new information into context to better understand antimicrobial resistance as a public health challenge.

The County Director of Health Dr David Bungei who convened the event noted that currently the misuse and overuse of antimicrobial agents such as antibiotics was the major contributor to the rise of antimicrobial resistance.

Dr Diana Jeruto, County AMR Coordinator

“As antibiotics lose their effectiveness, treating infections becomes increasingly challenging resulting in an increase of major illnesses and in severe cases the death of patients.” said Dr Bungei.

According to the County AMR Coordinator Dr Diana Jeruto, the over-use and misuse of antimicrobials is a major contributing factor to AMR in humans. “We strongly discourage the public from over-the-counter antibiotic usage and in the event of sickness, we urge patients to seek medical consultation from a licensed medical practitioner.”

Dr Andrew Kisang, County Pharmacist

The County Pharmacist Dr Andrew Kisang called on pharmacists countywide to heed the resolutions made by Pharmacists at the PSKASC2019, in part that called for pharmacist to offer leadership at their local level by attending and participating in local social events in order to be plugged into the real needs of society.

Sharing of drugs is a common occurrence in many low and middle invome settings and households, and a major contributing behaviour to AMR.

“To be sincere at our home we share medication. We guess it is not a good habit but we do it. If we have a family member who has been given medications but starts feeling well before he/she finishes taking the given medication, we advise them to stop taking the medication because they are already recovered. In that case, we keep the remaining drugs and if another person at our home feels sick with similar signs, we automatically use the remaining medication”, narrated a participant at one of the awareness sessions.

The CEC Member for Health and Sanitation Ruth Koech together with the Nandi Woman Representative Hon Cynthia Muge hosted a delegation from the Embassy of Japan, led by the Second Secretary, Madam Yume Yorita at the Kabiemit Health Center in Ndalat Ward, Mosop Sub County.

CECM for Health & Sanitation Ruth Koech together with Second Secretary Yume Yorita

The visit was a follow up of medical equipment donations and focused on enhancing collaboration and strengthened healthcare partnerships.

Through collaboration with the Japanese Embassy, the Office of the Woman Representative facilitated the supply of modern diagnostic and maternity equipment to Kabiemit Health Center.

“This visit by the Japanese envoy is historic to our county. We look forward to tapping into their great pool of networks for the common good of our people,” said Ruth Koech, the CEC Member for Health.

The envoy affirmed her commitment to partnering with Nandi to improve healthcare access.

Hon Cynthia Muge extended her gratitude to the Japanese Embassy for their continuous support and dedication in the public health field.

Alos present was the area Member of County Assembly (MCA), Hon. Nicholas Kiberenge.