Trans Nzoia county will relocate most health services from the Kitale Referral hospital to the newly renamed Wamalwa Kijana Teaching and Referral Hospital.
More than Sh1 billion has been used to put up facilities at the Wamalwa Kijana Referral Hospital which was recently renamed by Governor George Natembeya in honour of former Vice President, Michael Kijana Wamalwa (deceased).
Construction work at the hospital is more than halfway complete with the county chief officer for Health Dr Emmanuel Wanjala saying they are in the process of planning to relocate services to the new facility.
“Once we start moving, the current Kitale referral hospital will continue to offer laboratory, mental health, and eye care services while most other operations will be moved to the new facility,” Dr Wanjala said.
He said governor Natembeya’s administration was keen on making healthcare services more accessible and affordable for residents.
He spoke in Kitale when the governor's spouse Lillian Natembeya hosted cancer patients and made a plea for effort from various stakeholders to support patients under palliative care in the region.
During the meeting at her Kitale's Milimani office, Lilian expressed concern over the inability of many palliative care patients to access a balanced diet which is a key component of their daily needs.
She urged the business community in Kitale, local farmers, non-governmental organisations, as well as National and County governments to collaborate and donate food to the patients.
Lilian led the patients in commemorating this year's World Hospice and Palliative Care Day, as she emphasised the importance of showing love, hope, and a positive attitude to help the patients in recovery.
"We need a united front to ensure patients under palliative care receive the necessary support and nourishment in terms of food they deserve."
She said her office is collaborating with the department of health to avail a cancer centre that would provide affordable treatment to cancer patients. Currently, many patients seek treatment in Eldoret, incurring huge costs.
"It's time to take action and establish a centre that will cater to the needs of the cancer patients in this county, thus reduce their financial burden,” she said. Present also included Director Dr Engineer Rachael, and Fridah Lunani who is a palliative care nurse.
Dr Wanjala said Mount Hospital would be transformed into a cancer centre, which should help reduce treatment costs for patients.
He said the county is now focusing on primary healthcare especially prevention, early disease diagnosis, treatment, addressing lifestyle-related diseases, and promoting good diets for residents as part of prevention of diseases.
He said the Natecare initiative, championed by Natembeya would pay for NHIF coverage for vulnerable individuals, adding that already, more than Sh10 million had been allocated for the same.
