West Pokot County has got a major health care boost after receiving medical equipment courtesy of the World Bank.
The health systems universal care, five year project will help lessen the high maternal and infant mortality rate in the County.
The project focuses on reproductive health, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health (RMNCAH) services, as well as effective and immediate intervention to the health crisis. It aims to improve healthcare services in several targeted remote areas of Sengwer, Kaibos, Talau, Kaprech, Tamough, Sina, Morwongor, Keringet, Sekerr and Chepolet within the County.
The commodities include seventeen solar fridges, ten delivery sets, fifteen fetal Doppler equipment, twenty hospital beds, three maternity heaters, 7,000 mama kits (baby shawl, lessos, soap and basins), and 3,000 mother-child booklets among other items.
Speaking during the launch of the equipment, West Pokot Governor Simon Kachapin said he project will further fund the procurement of a fully equipped ambulance, construction of two placenta pit wastes in Kacheliba and Sigor sub-county hospitals.
The County boss pointed out that his administration will work partners to get more funding hence improve health indicators and reduce challenges being faced in health facilities across the county.
On maternal health, Mr Kachapin said more efforts need to be made to address maternal mortality among women in rural areas.
“We will put in more incentives to make sure expectant mothers visit hospitals for delivery. We have the ability and personnel to deal with the challenges we face,” said the Governor.
He also announced that the county will employ more health practitioners to improve and achieve universal healthcare coverage for all.
He further warned against misuse of drugs and health commodities, saying stern action will be taken against those responsible.
Mr Kachapin said the County government has prioritized the health sector and has put measures in place to promote health care.
He said the donation would support the county government’s vision on provision of effective health services in all the local public facilities.
“I am hopeful that we will be able to offer the highest quality health care services now that our facilities are equipped with the necessary medical kits and apparatus,” he noted.
He noted that the county has prioritized equipping hospitals with maternity equipment and ensuring medical officers live within the compound to attend to mothers at all times.
“We have equipped our health facilities with maternity requirements to ensure expectant mothers find services closer and freely during delivery,” said Mr Kachapin .
The Governor promised to ensure the equipment is used properly to serve all needy patients.
“We have worked hard in a bid to equip public health facilities in all the 20 wards in the county so that we have serious service delivery to our people,”said Mr Kachapin.
County Health County Executive member Clare Parklea said that the project will enable mothers to give birth in hospitals.
“We shall be giving mothers a shawl, lesso, soap and to make sure mothers give birth in health facilities after delivery. We don’t want home deliveries,” she said
Ms Parklea noted that the program will help health workers in health centers in far flung areas in the County.
“Residents will benefit a lot from the new equipment as we have suffered for a long time,” she said.
