Residents of Tiaty Sub County and lower parts of Baringo North and South now have a reason to smile after Mpesa Foundation in partnership with Baringo County Government and Getrude Children’s Hospital commissioned the first telemedicine facility in the area.
The Telemedicine technology and consultations clinic at the Chemolingot Sub County Hospital in Tiaty West will connect children suffering from various ailments to pediatricians through “Daktari Smart” which is a telemedicine programme.
According to Getrude Children’s Hospital CEO, Dr Robert Nyarango, the clinic aims at offering quick diagnosis to children from far flung areas of the county to facilitate access crucial health care services.
Nyarango who was accompanied by M-Pesa Foundation CEO, Les Baillie, noted that a diagnosis shall be recorded at the local facility and transmitted via the video link to a specialist who will in turn recommend treatment to the patient.
He stated that the partnership which will also be undertaken in other three pilot counties of Samburu, Homa Bay and Lamu and targets to benefit over 32,000 patients from far flung areas who are challenged in seeking for specialised treatment.
Governor Stanley Kiptis while welcoming the programme said the establishment and equipment of the telemedicine room will complement efforts at the area health institutions comprising of 175 dispensaries, 28 health centres and the 6 Level Four Hospitals across the county in order to achieve Universal Health Care coverage.
Kiptis noted with concern that there are only two pediatricians in the entire county and with the advent of such Telemedicine facility, it will boost access to specialised treatment in rural areas.
He appealed to residents to take advantage of the essential facility by taking their sick children for quick diagnosis to facilitate early treatment and in turn save them the agony of having to spend more due to delayed treatment.
Area Member of Parliament, William Kamket, in his remarks called on more partners to come forward and offer assistance through establishment of additional facilities in the remote areas of the county.
He noted that such areas are often challenged due to limited health facilities, fewer health practitioners as well as drugs to administer to patients.
By Benson Kelio and Joshua Kibet
