News Categories: Health and Sanitation

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.

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.

The newly constructed Laboratory

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.

Ruth Koech – CECM Health & Sanitation with a team of Hospital Management Committee

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.

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 County Government of Nandi has upgraded various hospitals and commissioned the construction of new centres to serve people seeking medical attention.

Ruth Koech – CECM Health & Sanitation

To help address critical infrastructure gaps and improve healthcare services, the County Government of Nandi is set to deliver a state-of-the-art hospital that will transform Kapsengere, a once rural locality of Terik Ward in an effort geared towards enhancing access to improved health services to residents living along the border. Ground works are underway to complete the facility, which is expected to reduce the cost of treatment in neighboring counties and contribute to Nandi county’s quest to become a medical hub.

The New Multi-Storey Hospital

The new hospital will not only boost access to healthcare in Kapsengere but will also attract patients from the region and beyond.

The modern hospital will encompass inpatient, outpatient, pediatric wards, theatres and causalities units with modern diagnostic equipment to enhance quality service delivery to the public at an affordable fee while boosting the facility’s revenue collection.

Hon Hillary Serem – CECM Finance & Economic Planning

Earlier today, the CEC Members for Health and Sanitation, Finance and Economic Planning and the Terik Ward MCA led a team of Engineers for a site visit to the new Kapsengere Hospital to check on the progress of the facility.

“By embarking on this project to construct the new hospital, we are taking important strides towards building a more resilient and responsive healthcare infrastructure that will deliver much-needed essential healthcare services to communities that need them most, particularly the most vulnerable groups,” said Ruth Koech, the CEC Member for Health and Sanitation.

Hon Eliud Maindi – MCA Terik Ward

“Under the leadership of H. E Governor Sang, we committed to reaching this goal in our quest to expand the reach of healthcare services across the county,” she added.

On his part, the CEC Member for Finance and Economic Planning Hon Hillary Serem said “Investment in healthcare infrastructure is crucial to ensuring Nandi County’s prosperity. This is why we will ensure that this facility is completed the soonest so as to increase access to high-quality healthcare for underserved residents.”

Also present was the area MCA Hon Eliud Kirwa Maindi.

The hallway of Chepkumia Health Center – a primary health care center in Chepkumia Ward, Emgwen Sub County in Nandi County – buzzes with women and children. In the newly renovated maternity wing, mothers breastfeed their newborns and the nurses are busy making sure everyone is well taken care of. Outside, community health promoters meet with families to provide health education and advice on family planning, nutrition and immunization.

Not long ago, the same health center looked dramatically different. The maternity wing lacked beds and equipment and faced shortages of both medicines and skilled medical staff. This made it difficult to provide safe and effective health services to the community.

H. E Stephen Sang, Governor during his visit at the facility

Investing In Primary Care At The Community Level

Jane, a mother from Kabaskei in Chepkumia, notes that a few years ago her community could not easily access maternity services. Located in one of the rural areas in Nandi, her village is particularly vulnerable to economic shocks making it difficult for her to spend money on transportation to visit the nearest health facility, which was far from home. Many women were giving birth at home, which often resulted in serious health complications, and children missed critical vaccinations.

But with the renovation, equipping and operationalization of the maternity wing and more skilled nurses available in the health center, things have changed.

“I am happy with the new health services introduced to my community. Even if we come at 1 a.m., we find medical staff who provide us with very good care,” Jane says.

The Ministry of Health in partnership with the County Government of Nandi and Amref Health Africa launched a program that trains community health promoters to share information about good health practices, including family planning.

H. E Governor Sang, Chepkumia Ward MCA Hon Sang and Sally Kemboi the PCH Coordinator at the maternity wing

Jane is one of them.

“In the past, we did not have enough knowledge of family planning,” she says. “Now, women and adolescent girls know their options and are empowered to seek proper care and go on to complete their education and raise healthy families.”

Chepkumia Health Center is one of many health centers providing quality services to communities across the vast county of Nandi. Over the past few years, the county has gone from having less than 133 health centers to about 246, with visible impact. Between 2017 and 2023,skilled birth deliveries in institutions countywide have jumped from 45 to 72%, while use of modern contraceptives has increased from 34 to 55%. In 2022, access to pre- and post-pregnancy care and nutritional care to reduce stunting has passed the national average.

Prioritizing Hard-to-reach Communities

With many communities facing barriers in access to care, H. E Governor Stephen Sang has continued to make steps to ensure no one is left behind in the journey towards better health.

Services have been adapted in ways to meet the needs of women, children, and adolescents.

Continuing Need To Build On Progress

The comprehensiveness of these efforts has helped transform communities. Now, fewer women are dying from complications associated with pregnancy or birth, more children are growing up strong and healthy, and fewer adolescent girls are giving birth.

Challenges remain, however, especially with stillbirths and neonatal and maternal mortality rates, which are still high. With sustained efforts and partner support, the County Government of Nandi is committed to ensuring more lives can be saved and the right to health can be fully realized.

It is an early morning in Lelmokwo Dispensary, Lelmokwo/Ngechek Ward, nurses working at the health dispensary saw just a handful of patients. Yet several kilometers away at Mosoriot County Hospital, a sub-county hospital – intended for treating the most severe and complicated cases – faces a flood of patients traveling from nearby trading centres and as far as Lelmokwo village, the majority of whom were waiting for maternity services and basic outpatient services like treatment for malaria and upper respiratory infections which can be handled at Lelmokwo Dispensary and other nearby dispensaries like Sigot and Ngechek.

This phenomenon is not unique in other parts of the county – patients frequently bypass lower-level health facilities and community health workers closer to their homes to seek services elsewhere, often at higher-level facilities perceived to be of better quality.

Dispensaries serve as the first health contact and are an interface between community health workers and health centres. Here, health workers provide essential primary care services and make referrals to hospitals for specialized services, ultimately strengthening the foundation of the health system and improving the way people receive the care they need. The dispensaries contribute to an effective response to emergencies and communities are able to access basic care.

For pregnant women and their babies, dispensaries are life-saving. Now, with the dispensaries closer to home, they can receive the services they need when and where they need them.

The County Government of Nandi has made primary health care a priority to improve access to upgraded healthcare services such as maternity and make progress towards universal health coverage (UHC). Its goal is to ensure that people need to walk less than an hour to visit a health facility.

The County’s Community Health Assistants (CHAs) and Community Health Promoters (CHPs) program is one of the home grown solutions at village level, to complement existing health services delivery beyond established dispensaries and health centers which take care of transitional situations, and then the Sub County, County and Referral hospitals of which core mandate is to care for patients referred by the above-mentioned primary-level facilities.

The County Department of Health and Sanitation envisions a county where all women, newborns, and children survive, are healthy, and able to develop and reach their full potential, contributing to the development of their communities.

The County Government of Nandi has since constructed and upgraded a number of maternity wings across the six sub counties. The upgraded facilities – which included refurbishment, medical equipment and supplies, as well as training of staff – aimed at providing quality health care for mothers and children.

“Over the recent past, we have significantly reduced the rates of maternal and child mortality. As a Department, we are proud of this progress, resulting from prioritized public health interventions by the County Government of Nandi. With sustained support from our partners, I am confident that we can further improve maternal and child health indicators, towards the 2024 targets,” says Fredrick Kiptum, the Chief Officer for Health.

The journey towards achieving comprehensive healthcare calls for a joint and collaborative effort from all stakeholders.

Improving healthcare infrastructure and increasing access to healthcare services is also crucial in ensuring residents have access to affordable and quality healthcare services and facilities that can ultimately lead to timely interventions and improved health outcomes. Through Public Private Partnerships, the County Government of Nandi continues to collaborate with private sector entities to develop healthcare infrastructure and expand access to healthcare services by building hospitals and providing essential medical supplies and equipment to underserved areas.

New Kibisem Dispensary, funded by Karebe Gold Mine

Through these collaborations, significant strides have been made in enhancing access to healthcare services.

Earlier today, the CEC Member for Health and Sanitation Ruth Koech toured the newly constructed Kibisem Dispensary in Chemelil/Chemase Ward funded by Karebe Gold Mining Company ahead of its handing over next month. She was hosted by the area MCA Hon Martin Douglas, Jeremy Froome – Karebe Director/CFO, Nico Van Rensburg – Karebe General Manager and Kibisem Dispensary Management Committee.

Speaking at the facility, the CEC Member said that the unique partnership between the County Government of Nandi and Karebe Gold Mine leverages on the comparative advantages of the two organizations to accelerate primary healthcare revitalization towards the achievement of Universal Health Coverage and health security in Nandi. She thanked the Company for their continued support in the health sector.

On his part, Karebe Director Jeremy Froome expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration with the County Government of Nandi and reiterated the Company’s commitment to supporting county’s healthcare and education sector towards achieving UHC by leveraging on the strengths, expertise, and resources of both partners to address pressing health challenges and improve health out comes across the Chemelil/Chemase Ward.

Area MCA Martin Douglas lauded the continued partnership saying it holds a great promise in addressing complex healthcare challenges while using innovative approaches to drive positive change towards improved health outcomes for generations to come.

The County Government of Nandi in partnership with Karebe Gold Mines have been collaborating with local communities in Chemelil/Chemase Ward to raise awareness about health issues, promote preventative healthcare practices and encourage communities to seek timely medical care. Such community engagements, awareness and involvement are crucial for ensuring the sustainability and acceptance of healthcare interventions.

By bringing innovations, investing in healthcare infrastructure and empowering local communities, Karebe Gold Mining Company is making contributions for sustainable health improvements in Chemelil/Chemase Ward.

The construction of the New Mother and Child Hospital Complex in Kapsabet Ward, Emgwen Sub County, has entered its final finishing phase of construction.

Earlier today, H. E Governor Stephen Sang checked on the progress of the completion works of the new building at the Kapsabet County Referral Hospital.

“We have also started the procurement process for phased supply of hospital equipment for this new facility,” said Governor Sang.

The Governor said the aim of the inspection was to ascertain and review the progress of work achieved thus far.

He was conducted round by the site engineer, who briefed him on the project’s status.

He expressed satisfaction with the progress of work at site and the quality of job executed, while assuring that ongoing projects would be completed in record time.

Also present were the CEC Member for Health and Sanitation Ruth Koech, Chief Officer Fredrick Kiptum, Kapsabet County Referral Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Tanui, engineers among other officials.

The core principle driving the goal of universal health coverage is to ensure that all individuals have access to comprehensive, high-quality health services that are affordable and easily accessible. The collective efforts by the County Government of Nandi and industry players is helping in taking accelerated steps to achieve these goals. Public-private partnerships (PPPs) represent new avenues of financing and operating for healthcare projects, thereby alleviating the strain on public funds.

As a response, Karebe Gold Mining Company in Chemelil/Chemase Ward in Tindiret Sub County is embracing the PPP model which has seen the company construct a new hospital facility at Kibisem Dispensary.

Yesterday, the CEC Member for Health and Sanitation hosted officials from Karebe Gold Mining Company. The discussions revolved around strengthening partnership with the company and the handover of the facility to the county government.

Emmy Cheruiyot – Karebe HR/Liaison Officer

Constructing resilient healthcare systems necessitates collaborative endeavours from both the public and private sectors.

David Sum – Karebe

The Karebe PPP model enables the private sector to bring independent and in-house domain experts to develop successful organisations, by properly utilising insights, skills and technology which can is crucial in rehabilitating the healthcare infrastructure.

Present at the meeting were Emmy Cheruiyot – HR & Liaisons Officer – Karebe Gold Mine, David Sum – Karebe Gold Mine, Henry Muge – CBA Chairperson – Karebe Gold Mine, Nicholas Bittok – ChairpersonChairperson – Kibisem Dispensary and Jane Tanui Committee Member Kibisem Dispensary.