COUNTIES GATHER TO LEARN TELE-SURGERY FROM MAKUENI
Top health officials from Murang’a, Nakuru, and Mombasa counties on Wednesday gathered at the Council of Governors’ offices in Nairobi to learn from Makueni’s successful use of technology in the practice of surgery within the county hospitals.
As a pioneer in integrating Proximie technology, Makueni County has made strides in enhancing surgical procedures through the use of real-time video feeds.
This innovation has not only improved surgical outcomes, but has also facilitated the learning and mentorship of clinicians and medical interns within the county.
The meeting focused on counties coming together to create synergies, explore sustainable implementation strategies, and support the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) goals for the benefit of local communities. Digital health, as envisioned in the Digital Health Act 2023, will be optimally achieved once modern technology is embraced by all players.
Additionally, there was an emphasis on documenting these processes to share the impact across counties and with the Maarifa center within Council of Governors.
Shannon Shibata Germanos, Head of Proximie Global Health, emphasized that Proximie accelerates surgical training by allowing clinicians to observe procedures, learn new techniques, and exchange feedback from anywhere in the world and on any device.
Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. highlighted the successes achieved with the cutting-edge technology, stressing that a team-based approach, focused on evidence-based best practices, patient safety, and communication, has been crucial in strengthening surgical outcomes in Makueni.
Governor Kilonzo expressed his hope that modern technology would be adopted nationwide, championed by all 47 governors.
The effectiveness of this technology has already been recognized by Kenyatta National Hospital and the University of Nairobi, both of which have adopted practices learned from Makueni.
COG’s Director Khatra Ali acknowledged the potential of Proximie technology for county-based training, noting that it could help retain medics who might otherwise take study leave, creating gaps in staffing that counties struggle to fill due to budget constraints.
