Health Services - Uasin Gishu County

USAID Donates ICT Equipment

Uasin Gishu Deputy Governor H.E Hon. Daniel Chemno has commended the work done by development partners with regard to dispensing quality services to the residents of Uasin Gishu County.

Speaking on Thursday morning when he hosted USAID Mission Director Mr. Mark Andrew Meassick, the DG said that the work done by the development partners more so USAID cannot go unnoticed.

He also said that the administration has for more than one occasion partnered with USAID in the implementation of different projects.

The Deputy County boss while calling upon other partners to join hands with the administration thanked USAID for taking a leading role in the fight against HIV Aids.

On his part, the Mission Director Mr. Mark Andrew noted with appreciation the work done by the County Government of Uasin Gishu more specifically in the Health sector.

He said that the administration has created an enabling environment for all the players in the sector.

In addition, the County Executive Committee Member in charge of Health Mrs. Everlyne Rotich thanked partners and added that she will ensure that all resources from development partners would be used prudently and for the sole purpose for which they have been donated.

The County Secretary Mr. Edwin Bett was also in attendance.

Invest in Training of Specialized Doctors; National Treasury Urged

Uasin Gishu County Deputy Governor H. E Hon Daniel Chemno has asked the National Treasury to allocate more resources to the training of specialized doctors in all areas of the medical field.

Speaking on Friday during a stakeholder’s forum on health financing at an Eldoret Hotel, the Deputy Governor said that this was the only the Government will save its citizens from using a lot of resources in healthcare.

He said that Uasin Gishu County Government is committed to ensuring that all her citizens get insurance cover to cushion them when seeking treatment. The same sentiments were shared by Health CEC Mrs. Everline Rotich who said that an assessment has been done to have all the population in the County get universal health care.

The CEC added that they are working with all partners to ensure that the target is achieved and even surpassed so that the residents access quality healthcare wherever they need to.
Mrs. Rotich further added that more outreach will be done to ensure that more people are sensitized on the importance of getting a medical insurance cover.

Currently, 38 % of Uasin Gishu’s total population is under the national medical scheme of National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) and is expected to further rise as the campaign is set to gain momentum.

The departmental head further said that prevention of disease is part of the wider agenda of universal health care.
The Presentation was done by Kenya Healthcare Federation Led by Dr. Bola Tafawa and brought together stakeholders from MTRH, Private Hospitals, NHIF, KPLC and the County Health Management Team (CHMT).

Health Chief Officer Dr. Jones Cheruiyot said that all the systems placed by the department quality services will be offered by all county’s facilities and thus decongest the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital whose bed occupancy stands at 150 % at the moment.

ICT, Trade and Industrialization Dr. Emily Kogos and Agriculture counterpart Mr. Samwel Yego graced the occasion with both promising to support the healthcare by providing a conducive environment for investment and growth.

Adhere to norms and standards Public Health Officers Urged

Public Health Officers in Uasin Gishu County have been challenged to ensure that they stick to standards and norms provided by the Ministry of Health so as to achieve the department's goals.

Speaking while meeting a team of officers from public health subsection of the health department, Uasin Gishu County Executive in charge of Health Mrs. Everlyne Rotich said that it is important that to stick to what is right from our end and leave others to the concerned departments.

The CEC said that there is a need for the subsection to up their game in sensitizing members of the public on various matters relating to proper hygiene such as proper use of washrooms.

She said that more emphasis should be put on preventive rather than curative saying that prevention was better than cure. She added that the officers need to be proactive and offer solutions rather than outlining challenges.

“You have my support in all you want so that you deliver. We have no excuse at all… All food joints should be inspected,” Said the CEC.

She challenged the officers to ensure that they protect members of the public from the eateries and food joints, citing that they are their most important client.

Mrs. Rotich urged the officers to be forwarding reports on so that disease surveillance is implemented on time.
The meeting brought together County Public Health Officers from all the six Sub Counties.

Call for Accountability

Uasin Gishu County Hospital Management Teams have been challenged to be accountable for the actions they take in their day to day undertakings.

These were the sentiments of Health County Executive Committee Member Mrs. Everline Rotich while officially opening a five-day workshop on performance contracting in Kebelio Hotel, Baringo County.

Mrs. Rotich said that it is important for all health management teams to understand the strategic plan for the seamless flow of the implementation of the County visions and aspirations.

The CECM further noted that the hospital managers from the 9 high volume facilities need to be aware of the direction the department is heading to so as to realize its objectives to its people.

While calling for teamwork for a common realization of the objectives, the midwife expert said that individual and collective target setting is important as this will aid during the performance appraisal.

“Teamwork is key in all this so that we have our indicators doing well in all the Sub Counties,” Said the CECM.

The department head while appreciating the team for the good work they have done said that she will crack the whip on all those pulling the department down.

She added that the department has facilitated many training programs hence there should be no excuse when it comes to service delivery.
The CECM further added that going forward, she will reward all facilities that do well and equally punish those that derail her ambitions while at the helm of the County health docket.
The CECM further added that going forward, she will reward all facilities that do well and equally punish those that derail her ambitions while at the helm of the County health docket.

The workshop brings together County Health Management Teams (CHMT) from 9 high volume hospitals and various heads of the section in the Health Department from all the Sub Counties. Facilitators from Kenya School of Government are training the managers.

Stern Warning Issued to Absentee Staff Members

Uasin Gishu County Executive Committee Member in charge of Health Mrs. Evelyn Rotich has cautioned staff members in her department that laziness and absenteeism will no longer be condoned.

Speaking while opening a one day workshop on evaluation of health workforce, Rotich said that all staff are expected to report and leave their respective workstations as stipulated in their appointment letters saying that a different trend was slowly developing in the health facilities.

She said that she was aware of the culprits and tough action will be taken against them.

“I was shocked when I visited one health facility yesterday and I was told that they have a shortage of staff yet 3 of them were irregularly absent.” Said the CEC.

The department head said that routine inspection will be intensified in all facilities calling upon the officers in charge of every facility to ensure that their staff are in the right place at the right time.

On staff shortage, the tough-talking CEC said that she was in constant consultation with the County Public Service Board with a view of adding more staff to serve the ever-growing population.

The same sentiments that were echoed by Commissioner Rev Ariko Ekitala who said that the board was aware of staff shortage.

Ariko who represented that the County Public Service Board chair said that they only employed a third of what was required three years ago.

While challenging public health officers to up their game, the prelate said that the health department needs to invest more in public health citing that prevention is better than cure.

The recruiter asked various departments to strike a balance between allowing their staff to attend various training and working in the County facilities.
“I want to congratulate the department for providing required supplies at the local facilities as and when required, the facility at my workplace (Moi University) gets supplies from the central County pharmacy,” said Dr. Ariko who is a chaplain at Moi University.

Up your game, CHMTs told.

Uasin Gishu County Executive for Health Services Mrs. Everlyne Rotich has asked County Health Management Team to up their game on their daily operations/roles.

According to the CECM, the baseline for service delivery is at mwananchi level and therefore the need to account for every cent spent.

She said that some of the facilities end up procuring unnecessary drugs which results in wastage.

The management teams are tasked with the responsibility of data collection in all facilities. This data is subsequently used during decision making in the department.

"The health indicators should all be reading green in the DHIS. However, some of the information is not complete because some facilities have even their data not entered in the DHIS between July 2017 and June 2018" she added.

She further instructed the responsible team to update the data before 15th this month.

"If this data is well gathered, measuring the rate of consumption and procurement of essential products will be easy. Nothing will go to waste" said Rotich.

The CECM further noted that her docket is working towards the introduction of performance contracts to ensure better service delivery in County facilities.

"We welcome all partners to join us in taking the health sector forward." said the CEC.

"We are in good terms with partners and we are looking forward to having all MoUs they had with the County uploaded on our website" poised Rotich.

On the other hand, Uasin Gishu County assembly committee chair for Health Services Hon Hosea Some who is also the Ainabkoi Olare Ward MCA said that the health sector is part of the Country's big four agenda and they are working towards seeing the sector thrive.

The CECM was speaking on Monday in Eldoret during the health stakeholders meeting that saw all county CHMTs/Sub-county SCHMT attend.

Other County officers CECMs for Finance and Economic Planning CPA Julius Ruto, Environment, Water and Tourism Mary Njogu were present.

Commissioning of a new-look laboratory and maternity building at County hospital

All health facilities in Eldoret have been directed to dispose their clinical waste in a modern incinerator installed at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital.

Governor Jackson Mandago has asked all health facilities to collect and dispose their clinical waste at MTRH. The Country's second largest referral facility recently installed a modern machine that sterilizes clinical waste.

"Effective immediately, all facilities should dispose their waste at MTRH where a modern incinerating machine has been set up," said Mandago.

Speaking during the commissioning of a new-look Laboratory and Maternity Building at County Hospital, Mandago said it is important for facilities to make use of the new machine.

"Proper disposal of clinical waste also works to prevent diseases and eventually leads to a healthy society."

The Governor spoke as he, flanked by his deputy Daniel Chemno and UAP Old Mutual Insurance Group CEO Peter Mwangi, commissioned a refurbished lab and maternity building at the County Hospital.

The County Government of Uasin Gishu in partnership with the UAP Old Mutual Foundation and other partners, had signed an MoU that led to a Sh 10 million facelift of the facility.

County Secretary Peter Leley and CECs Everlyne Rotich (Health), Mary Njogu (Environment), Dr Emily Kogos (Trade), CPA Julius Ruto (Finance) and Samwel Yego were among many County staff present at the event.

Dispensary unveils new maternity Wing

Uasin Gishu County Government is committed to improving and expanding all its health facilities within the County to the lowest devolved unit.

This will be done by ensuring that major services at the health facilities are availed in the local dispensaries and health centers spread across the region.

Speaking while opening a new maternity wing in Kapngetuny Dispensary, Ainabkoi Sub-County, County Executive in charge of Health Mrs. Everlyne Rotich said that the administration will continue investing in the health sector to ensure that services are readily available.

She also said that services that were not available at the facilities shall be availed in due course of time adding that her department had carried out a needs assessment for all the facilities in the County and advice the project management committees on prioritization in their development plans.

The CEC further asked the residents to make use of the facilities at their disposal adding that the administration will avail all required equipment, supplies and staff to ensure that health institutions function well.

Mrs. Rotich commended the management committee for using government funds prudently and heeding to the needs of the residents. The 4-bed new maternity wing will in the hospital serve a big client base. The just commissioned maternity wing has attended to more than 10 expectant mothers in less than a month.

“I am delighted as a midwife to be here today to open maternity, the government is offering free maternity, therefore, make use of this precious facility,” Said the midwife expert.

“I want to challenge my staff to ensure that they deliver in their line of duties". added Rotich.

The departmental head added that all Uasin Gishu County facilities are NHIF accredited calling upon all mothers to register with NHIF and Linda Mama so as to benefit with National Government's projects.

On the other hand, hospital management committee through Chairperson Mrs. Emmy Ng’etich asked the County official to help in starting up a process of upgrading the dispensary to a health center citing its strategic position.

“When the other Counties were on strike, the hospital served three Counties Uasin Gishu, Elgeiyo-Marakwet and Baringo even with limited resources," Said the chairlady.

The committee asked the CECM to consider giving the local dispensary an ambulance to respond to emergencies citing that distance and terrain to the next big facility was far and the need for an ambulance is vital.

Health is one of the four government's agenda dubbed 'Big Four'

Lab services set to resume at Uasin Gishu County Hospital soon

Hand washing campaign launched

Multi Agency approach to end Drugs and Substance Abuse