Busia County government has launched a Viral Load Molecular Laboratory and HB Electrophoresis equipment to help in the fight against HIV.
The machines that have been installed at Busia County Referral Hospital are expected to serve over 40,000 recipients in the County, 20,000 in Vihiga County, and additional transit recipients in Siaya, Bungoma, Kakamega Counties, and also neighboring Uganda.
Busia County Deputy Governor Arthur Odera revealed that Busia County Referral Hospital has joined the National EID/VL network of labs totaling now to 14 and becomes the fourth county lab to launch EID/VL Molecular testing after Coast Provincial General Hospital, Migori County Referral Hospital, and Kisumu County Referral Hospital.
Odera said the initiative is one of the efforts that aim at eliminating HIV among children by 2027.
He urged the youth to avoid getting infected and for those who are infected to get support and care from wherever they are.
The machines can offer a wide range of molecular tests across many disciplines and have reduced testing rate from 120 hours to just two hours.
“The process of getting the sample, taking it to testing and bringing it back was taking 5 days but with this, it will take at least 2 hours. We can respond and give care faster and attend to the people we attend to with better information,” he said.
Odera stated the need to work with the neighboring country of Uganda so that as a team the two countries can fight to eliminate HIV, adding that eliminating HIV in Uganda will mean its elimination in Kenya.
“We are committed to ensure that we are working on equipment and operation together with ensuring that our staff is well motivated. We are putting in measures that will ensure the hospital uses the funds they collect to employ other staffs so that the issue of understaffed be solved”
The Deputy Governor who is also the CECM of health and sanitation later on launched the operationalization of Alupe Sub County Hospital in Teso South, which previously was used as COVID-19 quarantine and isolation centre.
“We are proud to witness Alupe Hospital transition into a fully operational health facility. This marks a new chapter in accessible and quality healthcare for our people,” said the DG
He also revealed plans to activate the main theatre and other critical units within the Hospital. He said that the plan is to ensure that all hospitals in the county have ultrasound machines which will help to save the lives of our women and young children.
“This move will transform the facility Alupe into a Teaching and Referral Hospital, which will boost the county’s medical capacity and training infrastructure.”
Residents and local leaders have welcomed the facility’s reopening, noting that it will ease congestion at Busia County Referral Hospital and bring specialized services closer to the grassroots.
By Rodgers Omondi and Salome Alwanda
