With sufficient attention paid to the transformation of health systems and to the capacity development for high-performing health systems in the country, Kapenguria County Referral Hospital in West Pokot County stands to be counted.
People in West Pokot now enjoy quality health care that is safe, effective, patient-centered, time-bound, efficient, and benefits all residents without any discrimination.
Collaboration between the West Pokot County Government, the National Government alongside other development partners including the World Bank the region has realized improved health systems.
The County Government has managed to purchase medical equipment, renovate the Hospital, and build new health structures, thus making the hospital a medical facility of repute with modern medical equipment. Patients can now receive quality medical care from qualified medical personnel through
During a tour to inspect and review the status of the World Bank-funded projects in the region, West Pokot Governor Prof. John Lonyangapuo, hosted Department for International Development team leader, Ben Fisher and Joseph Akure, of the Foreign Commonwealth and Development office.
They toured the Kapenguria County Referral Hospital as the Hospital is funded with the World Bank in collaboration with the Government of Kenya.
The Hospital through donor funding has a functional Intensive Care Unit (ICU) that is equipped with ICU beds. The funding also touched on other essential facilities and related infrastructure at the Hospital.
The Governor revealed that his Administration is taking matters to do with health issues seriously.
Lonyangapuo said the county aims at capacity building and strengthening of health systems at the hospital.
He noted that several community health workers and medical staff have already received training on matters of health promotion and prevention, screening and early intervention that has led to hospital improve its quality of service, safety performance and accountability attracting more health care needs.
With the support of the World Bank and in collaboration with the Kenyan Government, the Governor noted that there is improved utilization and quality primary health care as well as reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health care.
The Medical Superintendent, Kapenguria County Referral Hospital, Dr. David Karuri, appealed for the donors to assist the Hospital deal with rising health care challenges in the region, he said
He noted that presently the hospital enjoys good Maternal and infant health care that has led to reduced number of preventable stillbirths, maternal and neonatal deaths.
Lonyangapuo noted that Hospital has 39,990 mother-child handbooks, 500 health workers have trained in monitoring and evaluation of health care tools.
He added that the health personnel have been sensitized on how to monitor health care in 70 outreach centres where patients in the interior parts of the county are treated.
The Governor also enumerated that 66 solar fridges for storage of medicines, 30 birth delivery kit instruments for delivery products, three maternity wings in Talau, Wonyoi and Tamkal all within West Pokot County,19,650 mama kits which present that are given to mother after delivery,400 integrated professional cleaning equipment for health workers,220 health care providers trained in focused antenatal care and 110 trained in Essential Maternal Neonatal Obstetrical Care (EMNOC) are available in other health facilities.
Lonyangapuo told KNA that with improved medical facilities and community health care outreach programs in the region the County has managed to improve maternal and infant health through the quality services a patient would receive at the Kapenguria County Referral Hospital.
The Governor noted that more assistance from the government and the World Bank in terms of funds will enable his administration renovate and build more health facilities in the region.
The Governor says Kapenguria Hospital is currently the healthcare focal point in the region due to its affordable healthcare, responsive health management, and a hospital that offers quality healthcare services and given more resources, more patients will greatly benefit from the facility.
By Anthony Melly
