Health

GOVERNOR MUTULA INSPECTS MBOONI’S UPCOMING 150-BED HOSPITAL UNIT

Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. on Thursday visited the New Mbooni Family Hospital which is under construction to assess work progress. The state-of-the-art 150-bed facility is set to transform healthcare delivery in the region.

Located in Mbooni Sub-County, the hospital will feature specialized units including maternity, pediatrics, newborn care, gynecology, casualty, laboratory, pharmacy, and a fully equipped theatre.

Governor Mutula assured residents that the hospital will be completed before the end of the year.

He said the project aligns with his broader vision to provide quality and accessible healthcare for all Makueni residents, with several other health facilities also underway across the county.

COMMUNITY HEALTH PROMOTERS TRAINED ON COMMUNICATION SKILLS TO ENHANCE DEAF COMMUNITY ACCESS TO HEALTH SERVICES

Community health promoters have completed a five-day intensive training on basic communication skills designed to improve access to health information and services for the deaf community.

The program, conducted in collaboration with key partners, was a major step toward enhancing inclusivity in healthcare and advancing the goal of Universal Health Coverage.

According to the county’s Department of Preventive and Promotive Health, the training equips promoters with the skills to deliver services that are not only accessible to the deaf but also respectful of their language and culture.

MAKUENI STEPS UP CAMPAIGN TO DEBUNK VACCINE MYTHS, BOOST IMMUNIZATION

The County Government of Makueni, in partnership with the National Vaccines and Immunization Program, on Wednesday hosted a high-level stakeholders’ meeting in Wote to push back against vaccine misconceptions and rally support for routine immunization.

These forums are part of our social advocacy efforts for immunization. They are critical in raising awareness about the benefits of vaccines while addressing hesitancy through effective communication and strong community engagement.

Dr. Mwatha noted that the ultimate goal is to boost vaccine uptake across the county by building public confidence, fostering community ownership, and instilling a sense of responsibility in protecting children and families from preventable diseases.

MAKUENI STRIKING NURSES SIGN RETURN-TO-WORK DEAL

The Makueni County Government on Wednesday reached a breakthrough with striking nurses and midwives after signing a return-to-work formula, ending weeks of a nationwide industrial standoff that began on August 8.

The agreement was sealed at the County premises in Wote, with officials from the Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUNM), County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Health Joyce Mutua, Public Service Board Chair Dr. Nicodemus Muteti and Health Services Chief Officer Dr. Harvey Mulei in attendance.

Addressing the press after the signing, Makueni KNUNM Chapter Chair Damiano Muriuki urged all striking nurses and midwives to report back to their stations immediately.

He appreciated governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr for converting all nurses who were on contract to permanent and pensionable terms.

Muriuki emphasized that the industrial action was driven by demands for improved welfare, including securing permanent and pensionable terms for nurses employed under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) program.

On her part, CECM Mutua reassured the union of the county’s commitment, pledging to fast-track implementation of key resolutions agreed upon in the deal.

The return-to-work formula now sets the stage for normalcy in Makueni’s health facilities, restoring critical services that had been disrupted for nearly two weeks.

MAKUENI RALLIES PARTNERS TO BOOST MATERNAL AND CHILD NUTRITION.

County Health Management Team has joined hands with agriculture department’s representatives in Wote for a two- day high-level co-creation forum aimed at charting a work plan for Helen Keller International (HKI)-supported nutrition programs.

The county is benefiting from a grant-funded consortium bringing together three global public health nonprofits, Helen Keller International, Vitamin Angels, and IDE with the shared mission of improving nutrition among underserved pregnant women, infants, and young children in Makueni.

According to the Helen Keller International team, the initiative seeks to transform lives by strengthening maternal and child health through proven nutrition interventions while reinforcing food and health systems.

The approach deliberately places women and children at the center of the county’s development agenda.

The consortium will focus on both nutrition-specific interventions such as vitamin A supplementation, deworming, breastfeeding promotion, infant and young child feeding, and screening and treatment of acute malnutrition as well as nutrition-sensitive strategies, which include boosting agricultural production, enhancing supply chains, supporting small market enterprises, and improving hygiene.

Through this partnership, Makueni hopes to create an enabling environment for scaling up multiple micronutrient supplements, increasing the number of mothers and children accessing iron and folate supplements, expanding exclusive breastfeeding coverage, and widening access to vitamin A supplementation and deworming.

The initiative also aims to ensure that households within the critical first 1,000 days of life have both physical and economic access to nutritious diets.

Speaking during the forum, Dr. Stephen Mwatha, Ag Director of Preventive and Promotive Health Services, acknowledged the county’s nutrition challenges but expressed optimism that the partnership would go a long way in addressing them.

MAKUENI COUNTY PARTNERS WITH VITAMIN ANGELS TO FIGHT MALNUTRITION AND TEEN PREGNANCIES.

Makueni County has signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Africa Vitamin Angels, a global nonprofit health organization, to introduce Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS) aimed at combating malnutrition among women and children.

Through this new partnership, Makueni becomes the first county in Kenya to pilot the World Health Organization (WHO)-recommended MMS program, targeting micronutrient deficiencies in pregnant women.

The initiative will take an implementation science approach, enabling the county’s technical working group, in collaboration with Vitamin Angels, to generate local data and strategies for scaling the program effectively.

Dr. Lucy Kanya, Senior Regional Technical Director at Vitamin Angels, applauded Makueni’s proactive approach, calling the partnership a significant step forward in maternal and child health.

She also reaffirmed Vitamin Angels’ commitment to addressing adolescent pregnancy, a major contributor to premature births.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr., who presided over the MoU signing, hailed the initiative as a “God-sent opportunity,” especially as anaemia rates in the county remain high at 47%.

He urged both Vitamin Angels and other stakeholders to prioritize efforts to reduce teenage pregnancies, which he described as a “silent national pandemic.”

Vitamin Angels

MAKUENI ONCE AGAIN SHINES AT DEVOLUTION CONFERENCE WITH GAME-CHANGING DIGITAL SURGERY TECHNOLOGY

Governors from across the country turned their focus to cutting-edge healthcare innovations at this year’s Devolution Conference in Homa Bay, engaging in peer-to-peer learning on digital surgery and health equity.

Once again, Makueni County stole the spotlight, earning glowing praise for pioneering the use of Proximie technology in Kenya.

The innovative system uses cameras, speakers, and computers connected via the internet to link operating rooms with specialists anywhere in the world.

Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili walked fellow governors through Makueni’s transformative experience with Proximie, explaining how it enables real-time consultation during surgical procedures, regardless of distance.

Dr. Shannon Shibarta, Head of Global Proximie, hailed Makueni for its trailblazing role, noting that the county’s success story is now inspiring medical professionals as far afield as East Africa.

Kisumu Governor Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o pledged to be next in line to adopt the cloud-based system, promising to bring the innovation home to his people.

Tharaka Nithi Governor Muthomi Njuki, who chairs the Health Committee in the Council of Governors, revealed that the council is ready to explore partnerships with vendors willing to supply the costly high-end equipment on a pay-per-patient model, making adoption more affordable for counties.

GOVERNOR MUTULA KILONZO JR. SIGNS MUTULACARE IMPLEMENTATION GUIDELINES.

Makueni Governor on Monday signed Mutulacare implementation guidlines to guide the County Assembly on the implementation of the Mutulacare scheme on the floor of the House.

This scheme is a County-led Universal Health Coverage initiative that will enhance access to Quality healthcare for all residents in the county.

While signing the guidelines, Governor Mutula said Mutulacare will pay for social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) for indigent and vulnerable households to enable access to health care in what was echoed by CECM Health, Joyce Mutua.

Beneficiaries will receive comprehensive heathcare including inpatient and outpatient services, dental and optical care, chronic illness management. They will also receive emergency treatment, including ambulance evacuations in the scheme which targets to cover over 50 per cent of Makueni residents.

Cabinet approved it last week.

Others present were DG Lucy Mulili, County Secretary, Justin Kyambi,

CECMs Finance Damaris Kavoi, Devolution, Nicholas Nzioka and Lands, Paul Musila, among others.

MAKUENI CHOSEN FOR FIRST-EVER EMERGENCY RESPONSE PILOT.

Makueni County has been selected as the pilot site for a groundbreaking four-year Highway Emergency Response Program launched by St. John’s Kenya.

The project, which will stretch along the busy Mombasa–Busia highway, aims to improve emergency medical care at accident-prone zones. It will establish 19 first aid stations, 4 trauma centers, and deploy 4 state-of-the-art ambulances staffed with trained paramedics to deliver timely post-crash care.

Speaking when he visited Makueni County headquarters, Dr. Robert Mutula, Chair of St. John’s Kenya, confirmed that Makueni will receive one ambulance, three First Aid posts, and one trauma center as part of the first phase. The national launch is scheduled for November this year in Emali Town.

Dr. Mutula further committed to making Makueni an emergency response hub for the Lower Eastern region by training local community members, including the Bodaboda operators in basic First Aid and victim assessment. Plans also include setting up a major blood transfusion center to serve accident victims in the region.

Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. hailed the initiative, calling it a God-sent opportunity that will ease the burden of disaster response along the heavily trafficked Mombasa Road, notorious for frequent and often fatal accidents.

Other key officials in attendance included Dr. Alex Muturi (St. John’s Council Member), Paul Ngugi (St. John’s CEO), CECM Health Joyce Mutua, Dr. Harvey Mulei (Chief Officer – Health HR & Admin), and Dr. Geoffrey Ngovi (Acting Chief Officer – Health), among others

GOVERNOR MUTULA TO COMMISSION STATE-OF-THE-ART HOSPITAL IN MAKINDU

Over 8,000 residents of Ngaakaa–Twaandu in Makindu Ward are set to gain access to advanced healthcare services with the construction of a state-of-the-art Level 3 hospital, funded through a partnership between World Vision Kenya and Mountain Blue Foundation.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. is expected to commission the facility in a month’s time.

The hospital will feature a mother and child block, a fully equipped maternity wing, a laboratory, administration offices, procedure rooms, a pharmacy, and a records unit.

It will replace the area’s small dispensary, which has been operating with limited capacity, marking a major leap in service delivery for the community.

The project also includes the installation of solar power for sustainable energy, procurement of essential medical equipment, and connection to the Kiboko–Twaandu water project to guarantee clean water supply for the facility and surrounding residents.

According to Chief Officer for Health Services Dr. Harvey Mulei, the partnership’s second phase will focus on equipping the hospital, while the county government will provide the necessary staff to ease the pressure on existing health facilities.