The County Health Department in Turkana County has pledged to prioritize the enhancement of referral systems at the Sub-county level and increase the registration of eligible residents, into the Social Health Authority (SHA) program this year.
Dr. Joseph Epem, the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Health and Sanitation, announced that the initiative would focus on building the capacity of Sub-county health facilities, to deliver quality healthcare, reducing over-reliance on the Lodwar County Referral Hospital (LCRH).
“The LCRH is already overwhelmed with a high number of patients and referrals. By strengthening Sub-county hospitals to handle non-critical cases, we can free up LCRH, to focus on improving specialized care and service delivery,” Dr. Epem explained.
During a meeting involving Sub-county Health Management Teams (SCHMTs), Sub-County Medical Officers of Health (SMoHs), and Health Directors, participants reviewed the current referral processes and identified key challenges, including logistical issues related to communication, transport, and poor coordination.
“Strengthening referral systems is crucial to ensuring that patients receive timely and specialized care. Our aim is to address these gaps and create an effective system that benefits all residents—from grassroots health centers to the County Referral Hospital,” added Dr. Epem.
The Chief Officer for Medical Services, Dr. Ezekiel Etelej, and the Chief Officer for Preventive and Promotive Services, Dr. Janerose Tioko, emphasized the need to empower SMoHs, to play a pivotal role in achieving quality healthcare.
“The SMoHs are instrumental in managing referrals efficiently. By addressing gaps in staffing, infrastructure, and equipment, we can significantly reduce the burden on LCRH and enable it to concentrate on critical and specialized cases,” Dr. Etelej stated.
Dr. Mary, the Medical Officer-In-Charge of Lopiding Sub-county Hospital, echoed the sentiment, stressing the importance of equipping Sub-county facilities with essential resources.
“We need well-equipped labs, radiology units, and adequate human resources. Maintaining medical equipment, such as machines and theaters, and providing specialists such as gynecologists and pediatricians, are critical for improving care,” she said.
The meeting also addressed the low registration rates for the Social Health Authority (SHA) program. According to recent data from the National Ministry of Health, only 32,000 individuals in Turkana have registered for SHA, out of an eligible population of approximately one million.
The CEC urged Sub-county teams to intensify efforts to promote SHA registration at the grassroots level, encouraging all eligible individuals to enroll.
“Our teams must actively engage the community to raise awareness and ensure registration. The SHA program is a vital tool for improving access to affordable healthcare for our residents,” Dr. Epem noted.
The Sub-county health teams proposed several strategies to address gaps in capacity, including increasing staff, improving infrastructure, and providing the resources necessary to deliver quality healthcare closer to residents.
By Peter Gitonga
