•This means that patients with less serious problems will probably have to wait longer for treatment.
•The county boss noted that once complete, the centre will serve this region during incidents of accidents and emergencies.
Image: MAUREEN KINYANJUI
Boost for Isiolo County Teaching and Referral Hospital (ICTRH) as plans are underway to set up a state-of-the-art casualty, accidents and emergency centre.
Isiolo Governor Abdi Hassan Guyo said that this is part of the plan to uprade the facility to a level 5 hospital.
“As measure of ensuring the facility achieves standards required for level 5 status, my administration is working towards constructing a state-of-the-art Casualty, Accidents and Emergency centre,” he said.
The county boss noted that once complete, the centre will serve this region during incidents of accidents and emergencies.
The primary function of an accident and emergency department is to provide immediate attention for people with life-threatening conditions.
This means that patients with less serious problems will probably have to wait longer for treatment.
“ Access to quality and affordable healthcare for all residents of Isiolo remains a critical goal that I hold dearly and It is my strongest belief that for us to realize this, an upgrade of Isiolo County Teaching and Referral Hospital (ICTRH) to level 5 status is needed,” Guyo added.
At the same time, the Abdi Guyo-led administration is in the process of upgrading Merti and Garbatulla Sub-County Hospitals to level 4 status.
This, according to the Governor will help reduce the numbers looking for medical attention at ICTRH, thereby reducing pressure at the referral health facility.
At the same time, ICTRH received a consignment of drugs and other medical supplies from Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (Kemsa) relieving patients the burden of buying them from private pharmacies.
Consignments for Merti and Garbatulla Sub-County hospitals were also delivered with supplies for other health facilities expected this week.
The supplies are part of Sh42.6 million drugs recently procured by the county government in efforts to ensure continuous supply.
Medical Services Chief Officer Abdirahman Ibrahim said the drugs would go a long way in easing challenges that had been experienced by patients seeking services at the facility.
“We are keen on ensuring residents do not consider private hospitals as an alternative (to public hospitals) by offering them proper healthcare services,” he said.
The official however called on the Kemsa to expedite deliveries to avert further delays of medicines once procurement is done.
“There is need for the authority to improve its efficiency when it comes to delivering drugs and other non-drug items,” Ibrahim added.
Local residents have in the last few months been forced to chip into their pockets to buy medicines at exorbitant prices from the local chemists.
Isiolo County Teaching and Referral Hospital formerly known as the Isiolo District Hospital in April went cashless.
Deputy Governor James Lowasa said electronic payments are much safer than cash.
He said that systemised services will save time and increase efficiency, transaction and accountability, hence bringing budget discipline.
Governor Guyo said that going cashless will boost revenue collection and prevent fund pilferage.
"By going cashless, the hospital can also track all transactions and reduce theft within the system," he said.
Isiolo County currently has atleast 50 Community Health Units and deployed 760 CHVs and 50 Community Health Assistants (CHAs) serving who are responsible for community health engagement.
In 2019, the County partnered with Living Goods, a non-profit organization supporting the digital empowerment of community health workers, to strengthen community health services, and a mark is seen in the digitalization of community health data.