News Categories: Health and Sanitation

Annual Work planning and budgeting is a key project activity since it allows the project to plan and manage its financial resources to support the implementation of its activities. The County Health Management Team embarked on a three day Annual Work Plan (AWP) Consolidation meeting.

The Department of Health and Sanitation is committed to strengthening its participatory planning process where key stakeholders are involved in the work planning and budgeting process this includes rural facilities, Sub County and county level.

The culmination of this is a joint harmonization and consolidation meeting for the AWP 2019/2020 FY by the stakeholders, after which the outcome of the meeting will be the key instrument for implementation and operational control for the departments’ activities.

Speaking during the seminar, The County Director for Health Services Dr. David Bungei said that the objective is to develop;launch and disseminate a programme-based AWP for Fiscal Year 2019/2020 which cuts across all service areas, sections of the department which will meet the requirements outlined in the sector’s overall planning framework, The consolidated work plan will be forwarded for approval to the Council of Governor’s after which it becomes part of the Budget for The Department of Health and Sanitation. Further, the AWP will be captured in the department’s automated monitoring and evaluation system for eventual monitoring to the impact level.

The county department of health and sanitation provided free medical services to the local community at Mwein IDP camp in Kiptuiya location, Kiptuiya ward of Chesumei sub county. More than 200 IDPs – men, women and children – received the medical support which included primary health care; tutorials on general health issues; family planning; malaria screening and treatment; HIV/AIDS testing, TB screening and distribution of antibiotics and vitamins and distribution of sanitary towels.

In her remarks, the CEC for Health and Sanitation Ruth Koech emphasized that humanitarian interventions taken by her department, such as the free medical clinic, go a long way in addressing some health challenges faced by the local community in the area. “It is our sincere hope that these tentative measures will contribute to the alleviation of sufferings among the people of Mwein,” she said.

The CEC, commended the health staff for the cooperation and coordination exhibited in the conduct of the free medical campaign, stating that this support has brought a smile to many people. She indicated that the most prevalent diseases in the IDP camp are malaria, diarrhea and pain related to bone issues.

Mr. Koech, an IDP at the camp commended the health team for their proactive role in providing the much-needed medical assistance to the local community. “We appreciate the county’s great efforts in providing support to the health needs in our camp. The IDPs and Mwein community will forever remember this support,” he said.

Nandi joined the rest of the world in marking the World Tuberculosis Day (TB) held annually, every March 24.

The celebrations were held at Kilibwoni Health Centre, in Kilibwoni Ward, Emgwen sub county where residents were urged to work together to eliminate TB by ensuring that any suspicious cough was screened. They were also asked to practice infection prevention and control and support people suffering from TB to adhere to medication thereby working towards elimination.

The event was marked by a procession through Kilibwoni market to increase awareness among the residents about TB’s prevalence and its cure. The marchers carried banners and answered questions from members of the public who sought more information about TB.

This year, Nandi County places a special focus on uniting efforts to fight TB with the county theme “It’s Time For a TB Free Nandi”, including actions to address stigma, discrimination, marginalization and overcome barriers to access care.

This is essential in order to reach the target of ending TB by 2030 as part of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the WHO End TB Strategy.

World TB day, is an opportunity to raise awareness about the burden of tuberculosis (TB) worldwide and the status of TB prevention and care efforts.

It is also an opportunity to mobilize political and social commitment for further progress in efforts to end TB.

The CEC for Health and Sanitation Ruth Koech said the government is fully committed to supporting the department of TB control and urged residents to come out in large numbers for testing so they can know their status of TB. “TB is like normal sickness and can be treated if diagnosed early, through proper medication,” she said.

According to Sammy Rop, the County TB Coordinator, TB prevalence in Nandi is at 110 per 100,000 population. The death rate stands at 8% and the defaulter rate is 5%. He said the region had experienced a problem of people not going for testing, which posed a challenge in tackling the disease. “Many people are not reached but we are trying our best so that people can learn and benefit from the TB control programme,” he said.

Present at the event were Chepkunyuk Ward MCA Hon. Dr. Paul Sanga, Chief Officer Preventive and Promotive Services Sally Kemboi and the County Director of Medical Services Dr. David Bungei among other county and national government officials.

Members of the President’s Delivery Unit and the Nandi County Delivery Implementation Committee earlier today visited Kapsabet Level 5 Hospital. The team was led by Nandi County Commissioner Boniface M. Wambua to assess utilisation of the Managed Equipment Service (MES).

The team was received by the Governor’s Delivery Unit, the Director Administration and Operations Dr. Philemon Bureti and the Kapsabet County Referral Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr. Daniel Kemboi.

The Managed Equipment Services Program has been a great boost to healthcare in Nandi County.

The program has brought renal, surgical and specialised imaging facilities, helping to decongest referral hospitals across the county.

The team commended the level of service delivery at the county’s referral hospital.

The President’s Delivery Unit was established to monitor the execution and delivery of Government projects and programmes.

The unit is an instrument that helps the Government to fulfil its pledges to Kenyans.

The unit based at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre is charged with ensuring that all ministries and departments achieve the pledges the Jubilee government promised the people of Kenya. It also follows up on execution and deadlines.

The health sector in Nandi is breathing a new life following the government’s commitment to provide quality, accessible, affordable and sustainable preventive healthcare services.

According to the Health and Sanitation County Executive Committee Member Ruth Koech, the county department of health and sanitation envisions the highest level of quality healthcare for socio-economic productivity.

The CEC affirmed that the County’s Executive and Legislature are working together to revamp the health sector across the County.

Speaking while on a working visit to Kapkangani Health Centre in Kapkangani ward the CEC said that she is following up on the operational shortfalls to ensure health facilities are working with the required resources. “We are dedicated to ensure there are no shortages in our facilities,” said Ruth.

The CEC indicated that the government will ensure patient management systems and security system are installed in facilities to curb all delays in patient administration and increase security to guarantee accountability.

She said her office is working closely with hospital staff to deliver the best services to residents of Nandi.

On his part, the Chief Officer for Medical Services Dr. Paul Lagat who accompanied the CEC urged Kapkangani residents to roll for NHIF.

The Clinical Officer Incharge gave a detailed report to the CEC on the status of the hospital.

The County Government of Nandi has announced plans to construct, upgrade and renovate over 70 health facilities in Nandi in an effort to bring services closer to the people and decongest the Nandi Hills and Kapsabet County Referral Hospital.

County Executive Committee Member for Health and Sanitation, Ruth Koech revealed that the project would be completed this financial year.

The county executive committee member further explained that the upgraded facilities would benefit residents of the six sub counties in Nandi County.

The facilities will be upgraded and some elevated to the level three and four status which means that they will now offer child health, accident and emergency services as well as non-clinical support and referral services.

“The upgrades have already been budgeted for and once we are done the impact will be felt in the county,” the Health CEC explained.

“Cases of people admitting themselves or mothers taking their children to KCRH for immunisation since such functions should be carried out at the lower level facilities,” stated Ruth.

The construction of five modern health complexes in Nandi County will begin soon.

A tender for the construction of the modern hospital complexes was advertised recently and construction will begin soon after evaluation exercise is completed.

Governor Sang’s administration wants to make sure patients are treated in Nandi and not referred to far-flung facilities out of the county.

The first phase of the health complexes is expected to be the finest in the region.

The over 300 bed capacity Kapsabet County Referral Hospital for instance will boast a Mother and Baby Wing, a High Dependence Unit (HDU), Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Emergency and Response Unit, state-of-the-art theatres and a Cancer Screening Centre at a cost of about Sh 500 million with the first phase costing a tune of 100 million.

This is one of the major projects that the county government is undertaking to reduce referral cases from Nandi to MTRH and Nairobi and also improve health care services in the county.

Other facilities are Chepterwai Hospital Complex, Kabiyet Hospital Complex, Kobujoi Hospital Complex and Nandi Hills Hospital.

The County Government of Nandi has an established functional renal unit at the Kapsabet County Referral Hospital that has ensured Nandi residents receive dialysis services without traversing long distances in search of these interventions.

According to the Medical Superintendent Dr. Daniel Kemboi, the availability of the services has increased the number of patients currently on hemodialysis. He said so far 14 patients are being attended to every week, this translates to 28 sessions carried at the facility per week. He was speaking at the facility while marking the World Kidney Day 2019 on Thursday themed “Kidney Health for Everyone Everywhere.”

The Medical Superintendent said four state of the art dialysis machines, are relieving renal failure patients the agony of seeking the service in far-flung hospitals.

Dr Kemboi said the services are offered Monday through Friday and on weekends in case of an emergency. He added that there is an experienced team of doctors and nurses working at the unit and asked patients within Nandi county to seek services at the facility.

According to Dr. Kemboi, the hospital is offering the services at Sh7,500 for non-NHIF patients.” NHIF members are fully covered for the service.

The Medical Superintendent said many Kenyans who suffer from renal failure die because they cannot afford the recommended dialysis sessions due to financial challenges. “Each dialysis session costs about Sh7,500 in our hospital and between Sh12,000 to Sh15,000 in private facilities and the recommended frequency of dialysis sessions per week is two making it very hard for a common person to afford,” he said.

Dr Kemboi emphasised on the need for sensitisation about the disease whose common causes are diabetes and hypertension.

He called on Nandi residents to enroll for NHIF.

Front line healthcare workers comprising of Clinical Officers, Nurses and Nutritionists at level 2-5 of health service delivery in Nandi are undergoing a five days World Bank supported Integrated Management of Neonatal and Childhood illness (IMNCI) training, a strategy developed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to improve child survival. IMNCI seeks to improve case management skills of first level health workers, strengthen the health system for effective management of sick children, and promote good family and community child care practices.

The IMNCI strategy forms a critical component of the Kenya Essential Package of Health (KEPH).

The 5 days of training combines classroom work with hands-on clinical practise, and participants achieve competency by repetition, combined with individual feedback from facilitators.

Rather than make a diagnosis, IMNCI trained practitioners will be able to classify the child’s illness according to severity using a series of algorithms, from which specific treatments are identified with emphasis on nutrition, health promotion and counselling. The child is treated holistically with evidence-based interventions that are feasible to implement.

The training will enable the health practitioners reduce the infant and child mortality in Nandi County, where deaths occur annually in children under-5 years old; most deaths are from common, preventable and easily treatable childhood diseases.

HIV/AIDS is the commonest cause of death in children under-5 years, but diarrhoeal disease, pneumonia and malnutrition remain the main causes of mortality.

IMNCI if well adopted can reduce more than 50% of causes of under 5 deaths.

Beyond Zero Coordinator Angela Lang’at on Saturday at the Nyayo National Stadium Nairobi, received Kshs 200,000 from the County Government of Nandi in support of this year’s Beyond Zero Marathon.

This year’s marathon will be held on Sunday at the Nyayo National Stadium, Nairobi County.

The cheque was handed over to the Beyond Zero team in the presence of Athletics Kenya President Lt. Gen. (Rtd) Jackson Tuwei by the County CEC for Health and Sanitation Ruth Koech together with the Chief Officer for Sports Kennedy Tanui and the Chief of Staff Priscilla Rono.

While presenting the donation, the CEC for Health and Sanitation Ruth Koech commended the First Lady Margaret Kenyatta for her passionate effort and desire to make a difference in people’s lives.

On her part, Angela Lang’at said the Beyond Zero healthcare initiatives have had a huge impact on health delivery to vulnerable populations especially in hard to reach parts of Kenya.

“The Beyond Zero impact on the ground is truly amazing and you can see it,” said Angela.

This year’s event is special, especially to people living with disability as they are fully catered for.

The event will for the first time act as a Paralympics qualifier for the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games.

Through the Department of Sports, Youth Affairs and Arts, the County Government of Nandi sponsored 20 athletes for the event, noted Kennedy Tanui the Sports Chief Officer.

Since inception in January 2014, Beyond Zero continues to play a key role in the elimination of preventable maternal and early childhood deaths as outlined in the Beyond Zero Campaign.

The success of Beyond Zero is well demonstrated by the progressive improvement in key maternal health indicators as well as HIV prevention and management especially in Nandi County. There has also been an increase in stakeholder participation and goodwill, all necessary for a healthy population.