Health services in Nakuru County set for major boost in new partnership

Nakuru,

Friday, December 15, 2023

KNA By Jane Ngugi and Dennis Rasto 

Provision of health services in Nakuru has received a major boost following the scheduled equipping and operationalization of the new ultra-modern outpatient facility at Nakuru County Referral and Teaching Hospital through a 3 billion United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funded project. 

The standalone complex constructed at a cost of Shs 600 million is part of the Shs 1 billion facelift that the County government has been carrying out at the Referral Hospital in response to the increased number of patients seeking services at the facility.

The hospital serves more than eight counties in the South Rift region including Bomet, Kericho, Samburu, Baringo, Nyandarua, and Laikipia where 2,000 patients are treated daily, 750 of them being inpatients. 

Nakuru County Governor Ms. Susan Kihika disclosed that the USAID funded project will be undertaken through Standard Medical Group (STANMED), a private Healthcare technology company.

The outpatient complex is equipped with a pharmacy, x-ray machines and modern laboratories.

  “We are experiencing an increased influx of referrals from other hospitals and health centers within the larger Rift Valley. Our strategy is not only to cope with the numbers but mainly to offer quality and affordable disease diagnostic, management and treatment services,” stated the Governor.

Speaking when she signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the devolved unit and the STANMED Group Ms. Kihika added that the outpatient facility is part of her administration’s efforts to revamp the county’s health sector and improve efficiency in emergency response.

The STANMED Group’s delegation was led by Country Director Mr. Ian Okundi.

 Governor Kihika indicated that huge investments in outpatient health facilities are still needed to improve health services across the devolved unit. She pledged that the county administration would continue looking for avenues towards increasing budgetary allocation and donor support towards improving provision of health care services.

 “One of my administration’s agenda on health is constructive collaboration and public-private partnership to strengthen Nakuru’s health sector and quality service delivery. We have prioritized the operationalization of all hospitals that have been built to ensure residents benefit from the huge Infrastructural investments that have been made,” she stated.

Ms. Kihika noted that malaria, diseases of the respiratory system, skin diseases,

diarrhoea, and intestinal parasites were major challenges at outpatient facilities around the county. The new facility, he noted, would provide easily accessible health services for Kenyans in the county and beyond.

“There is a need to realize that frequent health problems including accidental injuries, urinary tract infections, eye infections, rheumatism, and other infections are mainly handled by outpatient facilities. These conditions account for nearly four-fifths of the total outpatient cases reported,” stated the Governor.

Founded in 2017 and headquartered in Nairobi, STANMED healthcare technology company also provides network-enabled services for healthcare and point-of-care mobile apps in Africa.

The firm prides itself with developing Web and Mobile Applications aimed at facilitating communication between Research Institutions, Healthcare Providers, patients, and families with the goal of improving Healthcare Service Delivery.

Ms. Kihika stated that the laboratories, pharmacy and X-ray facilities within the stand alone facility will be purely for the out-patients and it will ensure faster and more efficient process of laboratory tests, X-ray services and dispensing of drugs.

Ms. Kihika who was accompanied by Chief Officer for Medical Services Dr. John Murima, Chief Officer for Public Health Alice Abuki and the County Director for Medical Services Dr. Daniel Wainaina noted that previously both the in-patients and the out-patients have been competing for the same facilities.

She said the facility is part of her administration’s upgrade program of health care facilities across the 11 Sub-Counties.

 “Our target is to have modern inpatient and outpatient facilities in every Sub-County.We are also establishing trauma centers at the Nakuru Level 5 Teaching and Referral Hospital, at Naivasha and Salgaa to cater for accident victims,” she added.

Ms. Kihika noted the outpatient wing will also offer the highest standard of medical training and top quality of specialized healthcare services.

Another facelift at the Referral Hospital includes setting up of a state- of –the- art Radiotherapy unit at the facility.

The establishment of the Radiotherapy unit was meant to offer quality and affordable healthcare to cancer patients. Those requiring Radio therapy sessions are usually referred to Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret for the sessions.

 Ms. Kihika said the hospital was now a model referral facility following completion of several projects. They include the Oncology Centre, the Shs 500 million state –of- the art Margaret Kenyatta Mother and Baby Unit and The Renal Care and Dialysis Centre.

"Many other projects are ongoing and in the completion phase. We are looking forward to their launch,” she pointed out.

The county runs 184 health facilities including dispensaries, health centers, level four hospitals and the Nakuru Level Five Hospital.

Courtesy; KNA