Health

Fifteen cataract patients were discharged from Kibwezi East Sub-County Hospital on Thursday morning following successful surgeries conducted after thorough screening and pre-operative assessment by the hospital’s ophthalmic team.

The hospital organized a two-day eye screening exercise that began on Wednesday and identified 24 community members for cataract assessment.

Of these, 15 underwent cataract extraction surgery, while the remaining patients were screened, treated and provided with appropriate medication.

According to Ophthalmic Nursing Officer Thaddeus Mutie, all patients were in stable condition and responding well to post-operative care.

He noted that the post-operative review process included eye pad removal, eye cleaning, comprehensive ocular examinations, visual acuity assessments, prescription of medication and patient counseling to support recovery and promote proper eye care.

Makueni County has renewed its commitment to strengthening family planning services through increased local funding.

A meeting organized by the County Department of Health Services, the Anita Mbinya Foundation (AMF), and Jhpiego’s APIP Project brought together members of the County Assembly Health Committee to discuss sustainable financing for family planning programs.

Stakeholders highlighted the benefits of family planning in improving maternal and child health, reducing unintended pregnancies, and supporting socio-economic development. They called for continued county budget support to ensure access to commodities and quality reproductive health services.

The engagement forms part of the county’s efforts to strengthen policy support and secure sustainable financing for reproductive health services.

The County Government of Makueni, in collaboration with the Departments of Health Services, Agriculture, and Gender, and with support from Helen Keller International, has reviewed the implementation of activities under the first year of a two-year nutrition programme.

The review meeting, which brought together officers from the three departments, revealed that 98 per cent of the planned activities had been successfully implemented across the six sub-counties.

The programme, dubbed Transforming Lives Through Nutrition, has been under implementation since July 2025. It focuses on both nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions aimed at improving the nutritional status and overall well-being of residents.

Nutrition-specific interventions are being spearheaded by the Department of Health Services, while nutrition-sensitive activities are being implemented by the Departments of Agriculture and Gender.

Helen Keller International, working in partnership with a consortium of development partners, is supporting the programme’s implementation as part of efforts to strengthen nutrition outcomes and enhance household resilience across Makueni County.

The Makueni County Government has allocated funds for the renovation of the old Makueni Law Courts building, which originally served as the first hospital in Wote Town, to transform it into a Level Three health facility.

The move is aimed at addressing challenges faced by patients seeking healthcare services at Makueni County Referral Hospital, particularly when accessing services under the Social Health Authority (SHA) framework.

Under SHA regulations, patients are required to obtain referrals from lower-level health facilities before accessing services at referral hospitals.

To ease pressure on the county referral hospital and improve access to healthcare services, the county government has invested in the establishment of a Level Three facility within Wote Town.

Speaking on Tuesday during the handover of the renovation project to a contractor, Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. urged the contractor to work closely with the local community to help boost economic opportunities for residents during the project period.

The governor also directed the Wote Water Company to ensure the facility is supplied with adequate water to support its 24-hour operations.

He further called on the Department of Health Services to progressively expand the facility’s capacity to accommodate additional services, including maternity and gynaecological care.

Governor Mutula said the facility, which is set to be gazetted soon, will also be fully equipped to provide quality healthcare services to residents.

The event was attended by area MCA Felix Mateso, County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Health Services Joyce Mutua, and Chief Officer for Health Administration and Human Resource Dr Harvey Mulei.

A 70-year-old resident of Kitaingo, Grace Wambua, is overjoyed after receiving medical attention following years of struggling with an eye condition.

Grace, who has been diagnosed with cataracts and is scheduled to undergo eye surgery, could not hide her excitement after meeting Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. and Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili at Mukaa Comprehensive School in Kilome, where a free medical camp took place.

Speaking during the event, she expressed gratitude for the opportunity to access specialized treatment and commended Governor Mutula for fostering partnerships that bring essential services closer to the people.

Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. has commended the M-PESA Foundation for honouring its partnership commitment with the county government following the successful medical camp jointly organised at Mukaa Comprehensive School.

The Governor described the exercise as an “amazing concept,” noting that the venue effectively operated like a Level Six health facility due to the wide range of medical services offered to residents.

Speaking after touring various service points to assess the progress of the services offered, Mutula said that 33 patients had already been diagnosed with cataracts and identified for corrective surgery, while others had received prescription spectacles.

He further announced that 23 pints of blood had been collected through the blood donation drive conducted at the blood bank tent, noting that the initiative would significantly contribute to strengthening healthcare services in the county.

Governor Mutula also acknowledged the M-PESA Foundation team for its continued support to the county through various health initiatives, including the construction of state-of-the-art maternity facilities and the donation of medical equipment, among other interventions.

The Governor expressed satisfaction that many residents from Kilome would return home with medication sufficient to last at least three months, easing their access to essential healthcare services.

Hundreds of residents from Kilome and neighbouring areas have flocked to Mukaa Comprehensive School for a free medical camp jointly organized by the Makueni County Government and the M-Pesa Foundation.

According to Kilome Sub-county Medical Officer of Health, Charles Mulwa, at least 750 patients had already been registered and are currently receiving healthcare services .

The camp is expected to serve more than 3,000 people.

The medical outreach is offering a wide range of services, including X-ray and ultrasound examinations, laboratory tests, management of chronic diseases, telemedicine consultations, electrocardiogram (ECG) services, fistula screening, general cancer screening, mental health services, eye screening, and dental care, among other health interventions.

Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. and his deputy Lucy Mulili are expected to join the M-Pesa Foundation team, which is already on the ground overseeing the exercise.

Makueni County has partnered with the M-Pesa Foundation on several other healthcare initiatives, including the provision of medical equipment and the construction and improvement of maternity facilities across the county.