The lives of 11 kidney patients in Ziwa has greatly improved since the government supplied modern dialysis machines to Ziwa health centre under the Managed Equipment Services (MES) model.
The patients who are next door neighbours to the health centre can now attend their weekly dialysis easily and at no extra cost since they are covered by the National Hospital Insurance Fund ( NHIF).
Before the dialysis machines were procured and operationalised at Ziwa, the patients used to travel to Eldoret or as far as Nairobi where they used to spent Sh.72,000every month for dialysis service, minus the cost of accommodation, food and transport for relatives who accompanied them to the hospital.
The Ziwa Hospital Manager, Chrispus Massan said before receiving the machines, dialysis patients from the area had to incur a lot of expenses to seek treatment from distant places.
“Dialysis cost at least Sh. 19,000 per visit and before travelling, the family has to plan at least three days prior on issues of accommodation, food and transport. How many families can afford Sh. 72,000 monthly for dialysis?” he posed.
‘’The 11 patients we manage can now be brought in by their families in the morning for dialysis and return to attend to other chores and return to pick their kin after five hours because they are just next-door neighbours to the health facility,’’ he added.
Speaking on Thursday during a tour by members of the UasinGishu County Development Implementation and Coordination Committee( CDICC) led by the Presidential Delivery Unit( PDU) Director, Micheal Mwangi to the health facility, Massan said the leased equipment has completely transformed healthcare provision and management of patients at the facility.
“With the modern equipment cases of disease misdiagnosis have drastically reduced. Our clinical officers and the doctors, including one Cuban doctor interpret ultra sound, X-ray results and prescribe the appropriate medication a patient requires because of the MES facility,” said Massan.
He added that for minor surgery they no longer need to refer patients to Eldoret since they can conduct them at the health facility adding that they were also able to ensure safer deliveries for expectant mothers.
“We are one of the leading health facilities in deliveries in the county with over 200 mothers delivering in this facility monthly. Because of the ultrasound equipment we are able to ascertain the situation of the pregnancy as soon as a client comes in to the health centre, and attended to them accordingly,” he said.
By Kiptanui Cherono
