KITALE, Kenya – Trans Nzoia County residents have received a healthcare boost following the launch of a new 13-bed renal unit at the Wamalwa Kijana Teaching and Referral Hospital.
Trans Nzoia County Governor George Natembeya officially launched the facility on Friday, July 24, marking a great milestone for the region’s health sector.
Addressing the department and hospital management during the launch, Natembeya noted that the new unit is one of the most advanced in the region and the largest.
“Our unit is one of the best in the region. We will be able to handle 26 patients per day and a total of at least 600 kidney patients in the county,” Natembeya proudly noted.
Natembeya said the unit will reduce the indirect and direct burden to families with patients who require dialysis services.
New dawn for kidney patients
Kidney patients have been travelling to the neighbouring Uasin Gishu County, seeking services at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH), with many missing out due to a lack of sufficient bed spaces.
“This critical unit is a relief to many people beyond Trans Nzoia. We will receive patients from Bungoma and West Pokot. We are reducing the financial health burden for many families seeking this service in different hospitals,” he added.
County Public Service Board Chairperson Joyce Nakhanu narrated a personal experience of losing a close family member due to a lack of a bed at the hospital, and commended the county government for supporting the new renal unit as part of the efforts to ensure universal health coverage.
Natembeya further disclosed plans to recruit more trained staff for the unit to ensure that the unit is fully operational and functional, complementing the intensive care unit that is currently operational.
The hospital board Chairperson, Dr Nang’ole Ferdinand, added that the new facility demands specialised nurses to operate the advanced critical lifesaving machines and monitor the state of patients.
He echoed the remarks by the governor on hiring of qualified specialists to match the new technological health infrastructure in the facility.
“Management of chronic kidney diseases requires trained nephrologists and renal certified nurses to handle the purified water systems and specialised equipment. I appeal to the county hiring board to hire localised experts to reduce costly facilities like Nairobi and Eldoret,” Nang’ole appealed.
Transfer of patients’ menace
The county CECM for health, Christopher Lorot, highlighted the growing menace of doctors from the facility transferring patients to private hospitals, killing the revenue generation for the hospital.
His remarks were echoed by Nakhanu, who called out doctors, stating that disciplinary action will be taken on doctors caught siphoning patients. She also highlighted the growing need on conflicting of interest among the doctors.
“It is our collective responsibility to guard this facility. We cannot be the cause of our undoing; this facility is our mother. Before transferring a patient to a private facility, check on the ability of the facility and the need for referral. Some of us will have to go home,” Nakhanu cautioned.
Natembeya echoed that it is shocking that the doctors are still siphoning patients, with resources supposed to pay them to another facility.
“I’m shocked when people I pay over KSh 100,000 still run to KSh 5,000. Nitakulipa nini sasa?” Natembeya questioned.
He added that the majority of strikes within the sector are politically driven, as many grievances laid by the medics were met, emphasizing on need for dialogue before taking industrial action.
“Some of the strikes are baseless and politically driven. Some people complain, and when genuinely confronted, you realise they do not know why they strike!” Natembeya remarked.
Lifesaving surgery
During the launch, the governor also commended Dr Jonathan Kiprop, a maxillofacial surgeon and his team for restoring confidence and the life of a 63-year-old woman from Machewa Ward in Saboti Constituency, who had an 18-inch tumour that had changed the course of her life for decades.
“I’m personally indebted to Dr Kiprop and his medical team of nurses, anaesthetists, and support staff for restoring a life and doing the impossible. The old woman’s life is now back to normalcy. I want to say a big thank you to all,” Natembeya said.
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