West Pokot County has signed a new MoU to help enhance
community health services, especially in rural parts of the county.
The county signed the MoU with Community Nursing Services and Rotary Doctors Sweden to develop a partnership aimed at enhancing community health services targeting rural communities in areas where access to established hospitals remains a challenge.
The signing ceremony was presided over by the county executive for Health and Sanitation, Clare Parklea and attended by representatives from the two partner groups.
Parklea said through the collaboration, the county would roll out the Community Health Service on Wheels programme, which will support 40 monthly mobile outreach clinics to deliver maternal, newborn and child health services to remote and underserved communities.
The partnership will further strengthen Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) interventions, dental health outreach services, advocacy and social mobilisation to end harmful practices such as FGM and promote healthy, empowered communities.
“This partnership highlights the county’s commitment to expanding equitable health access and ensuring that essential services reach every household, especially those in hard-to-reach areas,” Parklea said.
She said the county was open to working with all development partners, especially on issues aimed at uplifting the livelihoods of residents.
Recently, the county in a major stride towards improving healthcare access, by employing an additional 346 health workers, with a primary focus on strengthening services in remote and underserved areas.
The new recruits, comprising nurses and other critical health cadres, have already been deployed to various health facilities this week. The recruitment was part of a broader county initiative to expand its healthcare workforce and infrastructure.
Governor Simon Kachapin recently met with the hired workers in a forum that brought together recruits from all 20 wards of West Pokot County.
The governor emphasised the vital role they would play in transforming healthcare at the grassroots.
“You are joining not just a profession, but a mission—to ensure every resident of West Pokot, no matter how remote their village, has access to quality and compassionate healthcare,” Kachapin said.
He urged the new employees to serve with integrity, compassion and professionalism, especially in areas where access to medical services remains limited.
“The true measure of public service lies in your willingness to serve even in the most underserved communities,” he added.
Kachapin acknowledged the persistent healthcare challenges faced by many families in the region and noted that the deployment of additional staff would bring much-needed relief. While the county has made considerable investments in expanding and equipping health facilities, he stressed that infrastructure alone is not enough.
“Facilities need qualified and committed personnel to bring about lasting impact. These new appointments are a key part of that equation,” he said.
Kachapin also encouraged residents to take full advantage of the improved services by registering under the Social Health Authority, which aims to offer affordable, accessible and consistent healthcare coverage. He affirmed that SHA is already proving effective in easing the financial burden of medical care for many Kenyans.
“We are working closely with the national government to ensure all our health facilities meet SHA compliance standards and can serve our people more effectively,” he said.
