Kajiado Governor Joseph ole Lenku has commissioned an ultra-modern Outpatient facility at the Kajiado County Referral Hospital to ease the rollout of universal healthcare.
Speaking during the commissioning, Governor Lenku urged Kajiado residents to make use of the facility saying it is integrated with all components needed for quality healthcare.
He pointed out that the Kajiado County Referral Hospital laboratory is about to achieve ISO certification thus patients will not have to undergo similar medical tests when they are referred to Kenyatta National Hospital.
Governor Lenku directed that Oloitoktok and Ngong Sub county hospitals be equipped with renal units as the number of patients seeking renal services especially dialysis has increased from an initial five and is now approaching 40.
He noted that Kajiado County Referral Hospital is experiencing congestion and to decongest it, there is need to open the renal units in Ngong and Oloitoktok before the year ends.“The Social Health Authority (SHA) is working at the renal unit but patients are raising concerns from the other sections of the hospital and we are urging the Ministry of Health to ensure SHA is made fully functional across the entire medical space to alleviate the current suffering by Kenyans,” said Lenku.
Kajiado County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Health Alex Kilowua said that in the attainment of Universal Health care, infrastructure plays a very big role and with the ongoing SHA registration, many people will be able to access quality affordable healthcare at the Referral hospital.
Kilowua said that the health department has beefed up the human resource component and pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical commodities which are essential for the attainment of Universal health coverage in the county.
He thanked the governor for ordering provision of renal services in Ngong and Oloitoktok sub counties as there is an upsurge in the number of non-communicable diseases like hypertension, diabetes and renal cases in the county.
In addition, Kilowua urged all the residents to register with the Social Health Authority in order for them to easily access quality health without struggling for payment.
The ultra-modern facility offers imaging, laboratory, inpatient and outpatient services among others.
By Diana Meneto
