Kwale County has embarked on upgrading local health facilities to enhance effective healthcare service delivery to the people.
Area Governor Fatuma Achani says the devolved government has embarked on revitalising existing primary healthcare facilities for better comprehensive service delivery to the residents.
Governor Achani stated that before the inception of devolution in 2013, Kwale had only 35 health centres, but today it has 178 health facilities spread in the sub-counties of Matuga, Msambweni, Kinango, Samburu, Shimba Hills, and Lunga Lunga.
“We have constructed 178 health facilities and employed 1800 health workers as measures to improve the health sector, not forgetting engaging 1,632 community health promoters who have been empowered with medical skills and aid kits to assist residents at the village level,” said Achani.
Achani says the community health workers have been empowered to provide maternal and newborn health services in rural and far-flung parts of the vast county.
She was speaking at Kasemeni Ward, Kinango Sub County, while on a tour to inspect local health facilities with a view to ascertaining their present condition.
Achani, who was accompanied by County Health Executive Francis Gwama, says the devolved government has decided to increase the healthcare infrastructure to deliver critical medical services directly to the doorsteps of the people.
The Governor says in a major stride towards combating cancer Kwale recently commissioned the state-of-the-art Kwale sub-county hospital oncology facility, which will provide essential cancer treatment services to area residents.
She says the Kwale Oncology Centre is expected to ease the burden on cancer patients in the coastal region by reducing the need for long-distance travel to established cancer treatment centres.
“The ultramodern cancer facility is part of my administration’s efforts to provide quality healthcare to residents and enhance medical infrastructure across the county,” said Achani.
Achani also highlighted the ongoing construction of an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and Renal Unit at the Kinango sub-county hospital, which she said is essential for delivery of critical care during emergencies and tackling the increasing prevalence of kidney-related health issues in the community.
“The oncology centre, intensive care unit, and renal unit are among many other facilities being constructed to provide a conducive environment for delivering quality healthcare services,” she said, adding that the health facility upgrades aim to create a lasting impact on the health and wellbeing of the citizens.
She says the devolved government’s performance in the healthcare sector is evident for all to see and underscores the commitment of her administration towards the provision of quality healthcare for the people.
“We will ensure that our healthcare facilities are fully equipped with drugs and are operational to meet the unique healthcare needs of rural communities,” she said, adding that quality primary healthcare and infrastructure are indispensable to achieving the Universal Health Coverage in the country.
The governor further said that there were challenges facing the supply of medicines due to late disbursement of funds from the national government; hence, many facilities were affected by drug shortages.
“We are going round all the health facilities, checking on the areas of manpower, medical equipment, and the structures at the hospitals,” she said, adding that healthcare remains the top priority of her administration.
The coastal county boss urged residents to patronise public facilities in their localities for quality and affordable healthcare services.
Achani says Kwale County has deliberately placed healthcare at the forefront, recognising its central role in societal development and progress.
The governor says she has embarked on a tour of health centres to inspect the state of the medical facilities, gather firsthand information, and have an on-the-spot assessment of the current status of the facilities with a view to identifying gaps requiring immediate action.
By Hussein Abdullahi
