Health

Health officials in Makueni County are urging residents to remain vigilant as cases of Mpox continue to rise, placing the region among the most affected counties in the country.

According to County Chief Officer for Health, Dr. Harvey Mulei, the disease is spreading at an alarming rate, with new infections reported across the county.

He emphasized the need for residents to exercise caution in their daily interactions to curb further transmission.

The county epidemiologist, Dr. Pius Mutuku, confirmed that Makueni has so far recorded 36 cases, ranking it fourth nationally after Mombasa (193), Busia (69) and Nairobi (56).

He revealed that 80% of the local cases are concentrated in Kibwezi West sub-county, particularly along the busy Nairobi–Mombasa highway with Emali town emerging as the hotspot.

Since the first case was detected in July last year, the disease surveillance and public health team has been conducting contact tracing and collecting samples from suspected patients.

Dr. Mulei noted that while healthcare workers in the county have been trained to manage the disease with the support of partners, stronger interventions from the national government,local and international partners are urgently needed to contain the outbreak.

He added that plans are underway to scale up public awareness campaigns and establish isolation centres for confirmed cases.

Makueni County is also working closely with the North Star Alliance, to provide targeted health services to truckers, community and sex workers at Emali.

Clinical officer Kennedy Kibiwott from the organization highlighted that their peer-led model has played a critical role in reaching key populations that would otherwise avoid seeking screening and treatment.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.