Lamu flags off Sh16.6 million medical supplies to health facilities

The county government of Lamu in collaboration with the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority has flagged off medical supplies to be delivered to 38 health facilities across the county

The supplies are worth Sh16.6 million and delivery to health facilities began on February 11.

On Thursday, a team from the county departments of health and finance led by director of health services Abubakar Baasba visited the Kemsa depot in Nairobi to expedite the process.

The county aims to increase important pharmaceutical supplies to health centres and dispensaries.

The Lamu county government and Kemsa have worked on a distribution operation that will see the later deliver medical supplies to the doorsteps of over 38 public health facilities around the county.

Lamu county executive for health Anne Gathoni said Kemsa has assured them of prompt services and that all orders placed with the Authority will be processed and dispatched in less than a week. 

“Their customer service team tasked with handling orders from the devolved units have guaranteed swift turnaround times,” she said.

The order placed by the county features pharmaceuticals, non-pharmaceuticals, laboratory, and renal consumables.

Gathoni has assured residents of availability of drugs and better service delivery from the now expanded manpower following the recruitment of 11 new doctors earlier this week.

She also urged all Lamu residents who have not yet received their first Covid-19 vaccine to do so at the nearest health facility.

"We intend to have everyone in Lamu vaccinated to enhance immunity and resilience against Covid-19. It is critical that we all get vaccinated and urge others to do so, as this is the only way to restore our economy to where it was before,"  Gathoni said.

She further revealed that through the county public service board, the health department plans to hire more nurses to expand manpower.