Mandera Governor Mohamed Khalif speaking at the launch of
the dialysis center.
Mandera Governor Mohamed Khalif lays the foundation stone for
a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Unit at the Mandera County Teaching and
Referral Hospital.
Mandera Governor Mohamed Khalif is shown some of the
equipment at the dialysis center.Mandera Governor Mohamed Khalif has unveiled a state-of-the-art dialysis centre at the Mandera County Referral Hospital.
The facility seeks to end long and costly journeys made by residents living with kidney complications.
Khalif described the facility as “a promise fulfilled” and a turning point in the quest for accessible, life-saving healthcare.
“This is more than just the opening of a medical facility. It is a statement that every life in Mandera matters and that geography should never be a barrier to essential health services,” he said.
The centre is equipped with modern dialysis machines and specialists.
The governor also laid a foundation for an MRI unit and specialist clinics that seek to bring advanced diagnostic and treatment services closer to the community.
Khalif said these projects are part of a wider investment in infrastructure and human capital.
“We are not only building facilities, we are training and equipping our own professionals. Our doctors, nurses and clinical officers are undergoing specialist training while still earning full salaries. When they return, they bring back advanced skills to serve our people,” Khalif said.
Mandera, a largely pastoral and
cross-border county, has also adopted the One Health Approach — a strategy that
links human, animal and environmental health. In a region where livelihoods
depend on livestock and shared ecosystems, the approach feels urgent and
practical.
Khalif called out delays in claims reimbursement by the Social Health Authority.
“While SHA is a progressive
step, claims reimbursement has been slow. Hospitals are struggling to buy
medicines, pay suppliers and sustain services. If we are to fulfil the
President’s vision for UHC, these delays must be addressed. Health delayed is
health denied,” he said.
Khalif pledged to continue investing in healthcare, education, infrastructure and security.
“Together, we will build a healthier, stronger and more self-reliant Mandera.”
The county has also made great strides in reducing the maternal mortality rate by employing skilled birth attendants.
The maternal unit at the Mandera County Referral Hospital has greatly helped to lower maternal mortality, once the highest in Kenya.
In 2013, before devolution, the rate in Mandera was 3,795 per 100,000 live births. By 2018, it had improved to 500 per 100,000 live births.
