The Kilifi County Government has begun equipping its Level Four health facilities with modern radiology equipment.
This comes as big relief to patients, who previously had to seek such services outside the county.
Governor Gideon Mung’aro stated that the new equipment aims to provide a wide range of radiology services, reduce costs and travel time for patients, and increase access to specialised diagnostic services for county residents.
Mung’aro said he had committed to equipping Kilifi, Malindi, Mariakani, and Marafa Level Four hospitals, as well as the Mtwapa Health Centre, with modern CT scan machines.
He was speaking at the Kilifi County Referral Hospital, where he launched the county’s first 64-slice Computed Tomography (CT) scanner.
“The procurement and installation of the equipment will enhance the quality of healthcare services by offering much-needed diagnostic capabilities at more affordable rates,” he said.
He explained that the equipment produces real-time graphic diagnostic images, unlike the 16-slice CT scanners available in private hospitals, which often produce unclear images, forcing patients to repeat the process multiple times.
The County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Health, Peter Mwarogo, noted that the new machine has the capacity to attend to more than 30 patients a day, with over 200 patients having been served last week.
“In private hospitals, CT scans cost between Sh9,900 and Sh11,000, and the machines are 16-slice, which do not produce clear images. Our services will cost Sh5,700, and those registered with the Social Health Authority will receive the services free of charge,” he said.
National Assembly Deputy Majority Leader Owen Baya, who is also the Member of Parliament for Kilifi North, praised the county administration for the initiative, saying that the radiology services would enable real-time disease detection.
A resident, Mohammed Said expressed his relief at the availability of the new unit, noting that previously, patients had to travel to Mombasa for CT scans.
“We used to travel long distances to Mombasa for CT scans, spending a lot on fare, only to wait until the next day for the scan after paying Sh11,000,” he said.
By Janet Kenga and Emmanuel Masha
