Day: July 3, 2024

The Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) has launched a new Prime Care Center (PCC) to offer specialized and high-quality medical services at more affordable rates.

The PCC is equipped with advanced medical equipment to conduct specialized procedures, complex diagnostic tests, and treatments for chronic illnesses, all at subsidized prices.

Kisumu Governor, Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o, who presided over the launch, disclosed that the new center is designed to cater to the advanced medical needs of patients from the region.

‘I urge all residents to utilize this facility because it is your hospital,’ he emphasized. ‘Whether you are a civil servant, a business owner, or simply seeking specialized care, the PCC is designed to meet your needs.’

Prof. Nyong’o acknowledged the difficulties locals face, even those with insurance, in accessing specialized healthcare in private hospitals, where insurance limits are quickly exhausted.

He stressed that the JOOTRH Prime Care Center aims to address
the high cost of treatment in private facilities by providing high-quality specialized services at more affordable rates.

Speaking at the same event, Deputy Governor Dr. Mathew Owili, noted that JOOTRH, a level-five hospital in the Nyanza region, previously operated without a dedicated amenity wing. This issue has now been resolved with the inception of the Prime Care Center.

‘JOOTRH must compete with Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital due to the specialized services it offers,’ said Dr. Owili.

County Executive Committee Member for Medical Services, Public Health, and Sanitation, Dr. Gregory Ganda, stated that the new center would provide healthcare services in a private setting, targeting individuals with insurance covers that are quickly depleted in private hospitals.

He added that highly skilled and experienced doctors and nurses have been deployed to the PCC to provide professional medical care.

Dr. Ganda also announced plans to establi
sh a primary care facility in the Kondele area of Kisumu Central Sub-County, allowing JOOTRH to focus on specialized services.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Murang’a county assembly has passed a motion compelling the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for health to iron out challenges facing implementation of the county health care programme.

The MCAs on Tuesday said some challenges like delayed remittance of funds to the programme dubbed Kang’ata care need to be resolved immediately so as to ensure beneficiaries listed in the health cover scheme don’t miss medical care.

In a report tabled by the chairperson of the assembly’s committee for health services Boniface Mbau, it was revealed that beneficiaries of the programme have been complaining that their cards have no funds thus being turned away from health facilities.

Mbau highlighted that as of February this year, some residents included in the Kang’ata care programme complained they could not access affordable medical care since their cards had no funds and some of their names were missing from the list.

He added that use of the cards is causing delays in referrals to patients who seek specialized tr
eatment to facilities out of the county.

‘Mr. Speaker, the last expense funds which is one of the components of the programme has been delayed for up to six months before disbursement leading to extra expenses to the family affected,’ said Mbau who is also MCA for Muthithi ward.

The Kang’ata care programme was established by the county government at the beginning of last year to provide Universal Health coverage for indigent and vulnerable households in the county.

The programme with more than 20, 000 beneficiaries covers outpatient and inpatient services, optical and dental treatment and last expense.

According to Chairperson, the CECM for health should have a clear list of the beneficiaries as per ward.

Seconding the motion, Kangari MCA Moses Mirara said there is need to create a structure of management on the roles and responsibilities on running the programme.

‘Currently, the programme is not independent. The people running the Kang’ata care are not defined. There are no structures of management. We
want the roles of various officers running the programme to be made clear,’ Added Mirara.

On her part, nominated MCA Sharleen Wambui said that hospitals benefitting from Kang’ata Care should provide an audit on quarterly basis so as to ensure funds utilized are accounted for and residents benefit from the healthcare scheme without challenges.

‘Performance reports of all the four areas covered by the medical scheme should be submitted quarterly so as to monitor the implementation of the programme,’ remarked Wambui.

To improve its effectiveness, Gaturi ward MCA, Gathee wa Njeri recommended that the youth especially those who are vulnerable and with disabilities be included in the Kang’ata Care programme as majority of the beneficiaries are the elderly.

‘The programme should also consider including youth who are from poor backgrounds and who need support to access affordable medical care. This will ensure inclusivity,’ he noted.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The Global Fund HIV Grant Program, managed by the Kenya Red Cross society, has made significant strides in HIV prevention in Kilifi over the past three years.

As the program comes to a close, partners are celebrating the notable reduction in HIV prevalence, which has dropped from 4% three years ago to 2.5% this year.

In a press briefing as the partners were celebrating this milestone, Kenya Red Cross Regional Program Coordinator Salim Ahmed highlighted the program’s achievements. He emphasized that the initiative targeted specific high-risk groups in line with the Kenya AIDS Strategic Framework’s goals, which include reducing HIV prevalence and mortality rates and combating stigma and discrimination.

‘Today we have come together as partners to reflect and celebrate the milestones that we have achieved in the past three years. From the data that was presented, you could see great improvement; the county government also noted that HIV incidents have gone down’, he said.

Ahmed explained that the program focu
sed on young people living with HIV/AIDS, HIV-positive pregnant women to prevent mother-to-child transmission, discordant couples, men in high-risk settings, and other vulnerable populations.

The program, which ran from July 2021 to June 2024, saw a marked decrease in HIV incidents. Ahmed credited the success to the collaborative efforts of various partners, including KANCO, AMKENI, MZAZI Foundation, OMARI Project, JIINUE, and Connect to Retain.

Ahmed further revealed that among the methods used by the partners to ensure the success of the program included using peer educators, expert patients, and peer champions to mentor other young people and patients living with HIV/AIDS.

Despite the conclusion of this grant cycle, Ahmed announced that a new grant has been secured to continue the program, although on a smaller scale due to reduced funding.

‘Although this particular grant is coming to a cycle, we already have a new grant that was signed yesterday. Kenya Red Cross was granted funds for the next cycle wh
ich means that we will definitely continue supporting these organizations at community level’, Ahmed remarked.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The Turkana County Department of Health and Sanitation has commenced its cross-border tuberculosis (TB) screening outreaches, in conjunction with the Centre for Health Solutions (CHS), targeting the migratory populations along the Kenyan-Ugandan border.

Using the One Health approach, the first integrated outreach was conducted in Lokipoto, Letea Ward – Turkana West Sub-county. This outreach marked the first one under the USAID-funded Tuberculosis Implementation Framework Agreement (TIFA); with CHS as the implementer.

During the three-day outreach held at Lokipoto Dispensary, TB screening was provided using X-ray and sputum samples. Other medical services included outpatient care, antenatal care (ANC), and immunization services.

By the end of the outreach, 540 individuals sought human health services, with 264 screened for TB. Some of the ailments treated malaria, skin diseases, and common infections while the lab services were able to conduct ANC profiles. Additionally, 29,098 livestock were vaccinated and
dewormed.

Director of Preventive and Promotive, Dr Bonventure Ameyo, stated that community-level screening would increase case notifications, assisting in reducing TB cases in the county.

‘The next step is to further intensify defaulter tracing to address multi-drug resistant TB and, of course, the spreading of the disease,’ he said.

He emphasized that the completion of treatment and increased case notification should be key focus areas of the TB program.

Dr. Irungu Karugah of CHS noted that community-level contact tracing would also lead to more TB patients being identified and enrolled for treatment.

Under the program, 13 health facilities along the border have been engaged to plan for future outreaches, according to Dr. Job Okemwa, the County Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Lung Diseases Coordinator.

Other partners who supported the activity included the International Rescue Committee-Core Group Partners’ Project, the Kenya Red Cross Society, and the USAID Imarisha Jamii Program.

Source: Kenya News Agenc
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