Turkana county has launched an Emergency Care Plan to ensure more lives are saved within the first 24 hours of an emergency.
The plan will be a framework to establish a working emergency medical care system.
The new system will be based on the Kenya Emergency Medical Care (EMC) Policy 2020-2030 and a 2019 World Health Organization resolution urging countries to institutionalise emergency services.
Speaking during the plan’s launch, Health executive Jane Ajele said the plan would serve as the blueprint for all medical emergencies, which account for 30 per cent of out-patient cases.
“The plan seeks to improve the county health infrastructure and resource mobilising for emergency medical. It's key to implementation of Universal Health Care in the country," Ajele said.
She cited the directorates of Medical Services and Administration as well as partners for playing a critical role in the development of the plan.
Partners include the Emergency Medicine Kenya Foundation, German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development and Malteser International.
Director of Medical Services Gilchrist Lokoel called for expansion of county health infrastructure and capacity building of its frontline health workers. He said ensuring high-quality service delivery is important.
Representing the Turkana county commissioner, assistant commissioner (Kalokol) Patrick Siala said that the plan was a step in the right direction.
Sister Doris, who is the medical coordinator of the Catholic Diocese of Lodwar, thanked the county health department and said the facilities run by the diocese will implement the plan.
Representing the society’s Turkana Chapter, Dan Langat said the plan would serve as a guideline, especially in resource mobilisation and highlighting community emergency needs.
(Edited by V. Graham)
