Uasin Gishu county has received yet another boost after receiving 490 oxygen cylinders donated by Amref partners for health facilities in the region.
The cylinders will enhance emergency services in more than 200 health facilities across the county.
Governor Jonathan Bii through his county secretary Edwin Bett expressed gratitude for the donations given by Amref partners through the national government.
Bett said they had been experiencing a crisis in the supply of oxygen at some of the rural health facilities and the donation will improve the delivery of health services.
"Our people expect the best services from us, and so our aim is to deliver responsive and quality healthcare. This donation will definitely boost our vision to deliver quality healthcare,” Bii said.
Oxygen was crucial for serious cases of Covid-19.
Roads executive Joseph Lagat, who represented the executive for health Dr Sam Kotut, said the donation would strengthen the healthcare system.
"We are currently upgrading all our subcounty hospitals with theatres and another requirement being sufficient supply of oxygen. The cylinders will ensure all our hospitals have oxygen," Lagat said.
Preventive and promotive health chief officer Joyce Sang and her counterpart for clinical services Dr Paul Wangwe praised the national government and Amref partners.
The donation comes a few weeks after the county started implementing a Sh427 million MoU it signed with the Israeli government to improve health services.
Drones will be used to collect medical samples under a new deal to be implemented by ElsMed Healthcare Solutions from Israel to improve healthcare services in 138 health facilities in the region.
The money will be used to finance health-related projects for 10 years. Governor Bii termed the move a major step toward improving the healthcare system.
The partnership stems from a recent visit to Eldoret by Israeli Ambassador Michael Lotem, during which the envoy agreed to help finance several health projects in the region.
“We are grateful the partnership with the Israeli team has brought us a major breakthrough in our plans to ensure the people of Uasin Gishu enjoy quality medical services,” Bii said.
ElsMed, an Israeli medical firm, will undertake to maintain the equipment services or replace them when obsolete. It will also provide consumables, reagents and other requirements at an affordable price
"The county shall reinvent the finances generated by the project through the facility improvement of funding bill, which will ensure there is prompt payment of consumables,” Bii said.
The partnership will enable Uasin Gishu District Hospital (UGDH) to receive most of the sophisticated equipment enhancing the digital transformation. Bii said the project would help the county monitor supplies of drugs at the facilities.
The project will at first be applied to 23 county health facilities but there are plans to expand it through further engagements.
(Edited by V. Graham)
