Siaya Governor, James Orengo is calling for more engagement amongst stakeholders to make primary health care more accessible to Kenyans.
According to Orengo, a lot still need to be done to make healthcare accessible to majority of Kenyans who are struggling to access quality health care that is still a preserve of a few well to do individuals.
He was speaking at Siala Kaduol Early Childhood Development centre in Gem constituency when he led a team of doctors from The Association of Nurses and Global Outreach (TANGO), Canada in a visit to the institution. The volunteer doctors are in the county to conduct surgeries and offer medical services to the locals.
“I think Kenya as a nation need to sit down and consult more because primary health care in an environment where incomes are low and standard of living of the majority of our citizens are low, most cannot afford to pay the required amount to get treatment” he said, while addressing the press.
Addressing the occasion, Siaya county executive committee member for health, Dr. Martin Konyango said the Canadian medics have so far conducted more than 45 operations since they began the exercise on Monday 10/2/2025 at both Siaya county referral and Bondo sub county referral hospitals.
K’Onyango said most of the operations were in general surgeries and obstetrics and gynaecology.
“The visitors are helping us with some rare procedures including operations to remove Gallstones, correcting intestinal obstructions and hysterectomies” said Dr. K’Onyango.
The county governors spouse Betty Orengo hailed the team for its service to the Siaya community.
She said that the county, through a programme dubbed “Nyathi en Mwandu” (A child is wealth) has prioritized early childhood development of children, taking into account all aspects right from inception to the age of three years.
TANGO head of delegation, Dr. Ryan Torrie said the organization has been offering voluntary medical camps in various parts of the world and this was their first time to come to Africa.
By Philip Onyango
