Health

The County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Health Services Joyce Mutua on Wednesday led a supervision mission to Makindu Sub-County Hospital, aimed at assessing operational challenges and reaffirming the department’s commitment to enhancing service delivery.

Makindu Sub-County Hospital serves patients from across the region, including neighbouring counties of Machakos, Kitui, and Taita Taveta. The facility is particularly known for handling a high number of accident-related fracture cases, making it a critical referral centre for trauma care.

In a major boost to healthcare services, the hospital is set to introduce dialysis services, a development that will ease the burden on patients who previously had to seek the service in Wote or at Kenyatta National Hospital.

The CECM, accompanied by Chief Officers Dr. Harvey Mulei (Human Resource) and Irene Makau (Health Services), commended the hospital staff for their dedication and tireless efforts in ensuring patients receive quality care despite few existing challenges.

She reaffirmed the county’s commitment to strengthening the facility to meet the growing demand for specialized and efficient healthcare services.

The Department of Health Services on Friday joined mortuary professionals in commemorating Morticians Recognition Day at the Mother and Child Hospital in Wote, in an event that celebrated the often unseen yet critical role morticians play within the healthcare system.

Held under the theme “Honouring the Departed, Healing the Living,” the event recognized the dedication of morticians in preserving the dignity of the deceased while providing essential support to families during moments of grief.

Speaking on behalf of County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Health Services Joyce Mutua, CECM for Lands, Urban Planning and Development, Environment and Climate Change Dr. Paul Musila said the county government has taken deliberate steps to improve the welfare of mortuary staff.

He noted that the county has transitioned morticians who were previously serving on contract terms to permanent and pensionable employment, a move aimed at enhancing job security and motivation among the professionals.

Further, he highlighted ongoing efforts to strengthen mortuary services across the county, including the construction of a new mortuary facility with a capacity of about 100 bodies, as well as equipping health facilities to improve service delivery.

National Chairperson of the Morticians and Allied Professionals Association of Kenya, Elkanah Mwinami, emphasized the commitment of mortuary professionals to uphold respect and dignity in handling the deceased.

He said morticians play a vital role not only in preserving the dignity of the departed but also in offering comfort and reassurance to bereaved families during their most difficult moments.

The Department of Health Services on Thursday joined the rest of the world in commemorating World Kidney Day 2026 at Green Park in Wote.

The event, themed “Kidney Health for All: Caring for People, Protecting the Environment,” was led by a team of medical professionals from the Makueni County Referral Hospital.

During the event, the team conducted free kidney screenings and delivered health talks aimed at raising awareness about kidney health and the importance of early detection.

Speaking at the event, the nurse in charge of the MCRH Renal Department, Christine Andrew, encouraged residents to adopt simple but effective practices to protect their kidneys and prevent complications.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. has announced that Makueni County will roll out a new system to monitor the administration of medicine in public health facilities, in a move aimed at sealing corruption loopholes and enhancing transparency in the health sector.

The governor said the system, which will track the distribution and use of drugs across county facilities, is designed to weed out theft and misuse of medical supplies.

On healthcare infrastructure, he outlined ongoing investments, including the construction of a Sh34 million hospital in Kambu and a Sh70 million facility in Kibwezi, with another project in Kinyambu in the pipeline. He said the county’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) program is intended to ease the financial burden of healthcare, which continues to disproportionately affect low-income households.

The governor spoke in Nzayo, Ivingoni/Nzambani Ward, during the burial of Onesmus Kyalo Maitha, who was eulogized as a hardworking and community-conscious individual. Governor Mutula also pledged support for the education of the late Kyalo’s children.

Late Kyalo lost his life through a tragic accident.

Mutula Kilonzo Jr. has urged Parliament to urgently resolve long-standing National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) arrears owed to counties, warning that continued delays could cripple devolved health services.

Appearing before the Senate Committee on Investments and Special Funds chaired by William Kipkemoi Kisang, the Makueni governor said counties were struggling with unpaid claims for services already rendered, accusing the national government of dragging its feet in finding a payment solution.

“Without a solution, health systems at the county level risk collapse,” he said, calling on lawmakers to treat the matter with urgency.

Mutula noted that adequate financing remains critical to delivering on the health agenda, arguing that counties can significantly improve services if funding challenges are addressed.

He also raised concerns over the mandatory 35 percent wage bill cap, saying it undermines service delivery. While constructing hospitals is classified as development expenditure, hiring professional staff to run them is treated as recurrent spending, creating a policy contradiction that hampers effective healthcare provision.

The governor further called for the zero-rating of medical equipment to lower costs and support the country’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) goals.

During his presentation, Mutula outlined measures Makueni County is implementing to enhance healthcare access, including automation of health processes and rapid registration under the Social Health Authority (SHA).

He said the county had set aside Sh90 million under its Universal Health Coverage programme to register approximately 11,000 indigent residents, with plans to scale up coverage to 200,000 people. The initiative, he added, is aimed at ensuring sustainability in healthcare financing, particularly for vulnerable populations with no alternative access to medical services.

Mutula also highlighted the use of Proximie technology to bridge gaps in specialised medical manpower, enabling remote support and expertise in local facilities.

Members of the committee commended the county for deploying technology in the health sector and for putting in place systems that promote accountability.

The Department of Health on Day 3 of the Makueni Universal Health Coverage (UHC) mass registration exercise extended services to Kanzokea, Ikasu, Kimundi and Kithuki centres, recording an impressive turnout of residents seeking enrollment.

The exercise, anchored under the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), aims at ensuring all residents are covered under the national health insurance framework while benefiting from the County Government’s premium support program for low-income households.

Residents in Kitise/Kithuki and Kathonzweni wards lauded the initiative, terming it a major relief in reducing out-of-pocket medical expenses.

Health Promotion Director David Kiuluku, who led the exercise in the two wards on Thursday, reiterated the government’s commitment to achieving universal access to quality and affordable healthcare as part of Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr’s development agenda.

The mass registration continues across all wards, targeting 200,000 residents.

In Ngoni Cluster, Muloko Nzangi shared her family’s painful journey of caring for her ailing husband, who has sought treatment at Mbumbuni, Wote, and Kenyatta National Hospital.

The prolonged struggle forced the family to sell most of their valuable property to meet mounting medical costs.

She described the Makueni Universal Health Coverage programme as a timely intervention capable of restoring dignity and stability to families burdened by illness and debt.

According to Nzangi, the initiative offers hope not only to her household but also to many others silently struggling across the county.

Residents of Kakuswi and Ngoni Clusters commended the county’s health financing programme, describing it as a key flagship project for the 2026/2027 financial year.

Christine Muoki, a middle-aged woman from Nziu Sub-Ward, could not hide her joy after being selected as a beneficiary of the Universal Health Coverage programme currently being rolled out across the county. The mass registration exercise, which began on Tuesday, will run until Friday, February 27.

Speaking during a forum in Nziu Sub-Ward, the Chief Officer in charge of Health Human Resource Management and Administration, Dr Harvey Mulei, urged residents to support the programme, describing it as life-changing.

Dr Mulei said the county government’s vision is to eliminate the need for harambees and WhatsApp fundraisers often organized to offset hospital bills. He noted that the Makuenicare card will cater for both inpatient and outpatient services within and outside the county, including at private health facilities.

He further called on residents to turn up in large numbers whenever the department conducts public participation forums, emphasizing that increased engagement would help secure more funding and expand coverage to benefit additional households.

The programme targets to register more than 200,000 residents under the Social Health Authority (SHA).

For years, 64-year-old Moses Munyao of Kundakindu in Wote has devoted himself to caring for his wife, who lives with diabetes. But meeting medical expenses has been an uphill battle.

Munyao registered with the Social Health Authority (SHA) in 2024. However, keeping up with the monthly contributions proved difficult. His main source of income is informal jua kali work which remains unpredictable, often leaving him unable to pay consistently.

On Wednesday, Munyao made his way to the Wote Social Hall at Greenpark, hoping for a breakthrough through the Makueni Universal Health Coverage (UHC) programme. The initiative conducts household assessments across clusters in every ward to identify vulnerable residents in need of support.

His hopes were rewarded. Munyao was selected as a beneficiary and for the next one year, he and other successful applicants will access free medical services at public hospitals within and beyond Makueni County.

Beneficiaries under the scheme will receive comprehensive care, including inpatient and outpatient services, dental and optical treatment, chronic disease management, and emergency care.

The programme aligns with the national Social Health Authority (SHA) framework, advancing Universal Health Coverage for vulnerable and indigent households in the county.

Through the Makueni UHC programme, beneficiaries will be issued a Makuenicare Card, designed for portability across both public and private facilities, including those outside the county. The card will enable access to quality services from providers empaneled under the Makueni UHC framework.

County Executive Committee Member in charge of Health Services Docket notes that both non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and cancer and communicable diseases remain a priority, given their significant contribution to illness and mortality.