Residents of Baringo South, Marigat sub-county have a reasons to smile following the launch of a second Daktari Smart telemedicine devise at the St. Mary’s Catholic Mission hospital in the area.
The acting Baringo chief officer for health Salome Chelimo, speaking Tuesday during the handing over of the telemedicine device by the Safaricom Foundation and the Getrude children’s hospital said it will help in improving health standards in the Sub County.
“As the county health department, we are glad to launch the 2nd telemedicine unit, after we launched another one in Chemolingot hospital in Tiaty East last year, which is a major health boost and we thank the sponsors for it,” he said.
Chelimo said the device will now enable residents to access cheaper services at the mission hospital, besides cutting down on transport costs.
Mobile clinics will also be conducted to reduce cases of referrals to nearby hospitals, added Chelimo.
Health officer in charge of the hospital, Sister Monica Mongare equally lauded sponsors of the telemedicine technology, saying it will make it easier to reach out to the vulnerable families, seeking for medical services.
“Many lives will be saved, especially those of children from the volatile areas of Arabal, Nyimbei, Kasiela and Mukutani, where most of the times parents are forced to travel for long distances in search of specialized treatment,” she said.
Sister Mongare urged residents to make good use of the facility so as to improve on their general healthcare.
On his part, Felix Mburu from the Mpesa Foundation said the launch by the corporate body was driven by the need to improve access to quality health in the community and change lives for the better.
One of the local residents, Jepkoech Kemoi said the telemedicine project will enable them get prompt and accurate diagnosis, which will in the long run reduce referral of patients to other counties, hence easing the economic burden on the people.
By Caroline Cherono
