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Health

DEPUTY GOVERNOR MARKS WORLD AIDS DAY, CAUTIONS OF UPSURGE OF CASES

Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili, joined by CEC Health Services Dr. Paul Musila, marked World AIDS Day at Kibwezi Township Primary in Kibwezi West Sub-county on Friday. 

Musila highlighted the county’s progress, noting a substantial drop in HIV/AIDS cases from 595 in 2022 to 323 this year. He reaffirmed the commitment to providing comprehensive healthcare, treatment, and preventive services.

Mulili emphasized the importance of health awareness campaigns in eliminating the AIDS scourge and urged the community to reject stigmatization, a major barrier to accessing counseling and testing services. 

She warned of rising HIV infections, teenage pregnancies, and gender-based violence, identifying them as triple threats to our communities. Mulili called on all health stakeholders to contribute to building a peaceful society.

GOVERNOR MUTULA KILONZO JNR ON TUESDAY HOSTED NETHERLANDS AMBASSADOR TO KENYA MAARTEN BROUWER

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr on Tuesday hosted Netherlands ambassador to Kenya Maarten Brouwer in Makueni for talks on possible areas of partnership. Talks centered on green energy investment, health promotion and agriculture. The two agreed to further the discussion so as to anchor any partnership in the County Integrated Development Plan (2023-2027). Makueni plans to tap Sh 38B from partners to bridge the financing gap in the CIDP.

World Prematurity Day commemoration in Wote, Friday.

National Health Director General Dr. Patrick Amoth, Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr and First Lady Makueni – Anita Mutula launch the reviewed Kangaroo Mother Care Implementation Guidelines during the World Prematurity Day commemoration in Wote, Friday.

Makueni has trained 25 healthcare workers who offer Kangaroo Mother Care for pre-term babies in six health facilities. This has ensured 99.4 percent survival of all premature births recorded in the facilities.

Jacaranda Health and ThinkWell join forces with Makueni County to Strengthen Maternal and Child Healthcare.

 In a landmark move aimed at improving maternal and child healthcare in Makueni County, Jacaranda Health and ThinkWell have joined forces with the county government to launch a three-year Kenya Quality Ecosystem project. 
 
This collaborative partnership seeks to link maternal and newborn health solutions with the available budget and establish a data-driven approach to address the challenges faced by mothers throughout their healthcare journeys. 
 
The ultimate goal is to drive cost efficiencies in health funds, prioritize investments in innovations, and enhance delivery of quality care, thereby positively impacting health outcomes.
 
The project commenced with a comprehensive baseline Facility Quality Assessment and Health Financing Landscaping across 30 healthcare facilities spanning the six sub-counties of Makueni.
It underscored the need for appropriate revenue allocation towards maternal, newborn, and child health, revealing opportunities for significant improvements.
 
As a result of these findings, various innovative programs have been initiated to enhance service delivery. These programs include the production of Quality of Care reports, optimization of health financing initiatives and continued implementation of Jacaranda Health’s free two-way SMS service, and a mentorship program designed to boost nurses’ confidence and preparedness to handle emergencies.
 
Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili, who led the meeting, reiterated the county government’s unwavering commitment to advancing the healthcare agenda. 
 
She emphasized the importance of raising awareness about the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) program to enhance service delivery. 
 
The partnership between ThinkWell and Jacaranda Health, which initially commenced in 2019 in Makueni County, has been marked by collaborative efforts to improve healthcare service delivery.

Makueni celebrates success of keeping babies HIV-Free

 
 
With smiles on their faces, a group of mothers from Makueni are celebrating the graduation of their children, not the ordinary graduation but all the 40 children are HIV-free born by HIV positive mothers.
Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr accompanied by Dr. Jennifer Galbraith, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)- Kenya Director for the Division of Global HIV and TB on Tuesday launched the county’s HIV transition roadmap – a key sustainability pillar for HIV programming as well as leading in the celebrations.
The support from the U.S. CDC and Makueni County is helping to eliminate pediatric HIV by 2027.
Governor Mutula termed stopping the transmission of HIV from mother to child as critical adding that no infant or young child should acquire HIV when there are universally accessible medicines to prevent such from happening.
However, he assured the County will revamp HIV awareness campaigns challenging men to take a central role in ensuring they get tested.
He praised the mothers for taking their antiretroviral medicine consistently and correctly, hence keeping their infants HIV-free during pregnancy, birth, and breastfeeding period.
Dr. Jennifer said due to the continued support in the County, HIV viral suppression stands at 96% saying if maintained then there will be reduced HIV transmission.

Medtronic Labs, WHO foundation to work with Makueni in scaling up fight against NCDs

Medtronic Labs which has been piloting innovative digital health solutions to improve primary health care delivery for Non –communicable diseases (NCDs) on Monday paid a courtesy call to Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr, giving brief on their NCD support programs- Afya Dumu and Afya Kijijini.
Medtronic Labs, WHO foundation will work with Makueni to scale up NCD care, strengthen digital documentation and reporting systems, resource mobilization, and provide technological support for the innovative digital health solution (SPICE) suite.
Emmanuel Capobianco from WHO Foundation assured of invigorating all existing NCD programs in the County in financing Primary Health Care on NCDs through Medtronic Labs. Medtronic Labs was represented by Dr. Jesse Njunguru, Head of program Operations-Africa and Urbanus Musyoki, Programs operations lead-Makueni.
Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr said the phenomena causes deaths and disabilities which can be prevented by prioritizing early screening through increased outreach programs.
“Diabetes and hypertension is leading in the County. We must be able to explore ways of expanding specialist care for NCD clients which is mostly affecting the aged. We also need to have NCD corners established in our health facilities,” said Mutula
 

Top relief to locals as Kiou Top Dispensery is commissioned

Celebratory mood has engulfed villages of Kiou Top, Kwa Katiku, Kiuwani, Yoani, Muambwani, Inyenyoni, Masive, Ndumbini and Kwa Mukuyu in Kasikeu, Kilome after H.E Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr commissioned a new dispensary in the area.
While commissioning the facility, the governor acknowledged the existence of community Health workers promising to continue creating better working conditions for them.
He assured the community members that the urgency of health facilities being closer to the people to be core in his government.

Thousands of eye patients targeted as Makindu free eye consultation, cataract surgery camp enters day two.

Makueni residents will enjoy free eye consultations and treatment for a week following governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr’s announcement on Monday at Makindu sub-County hospital where a free Surgical Eye Camp was launched.
Yesterday, 253 people were screened. Among those, 82 were diagnosed with cataracts, with 53 of them having cataract surgeries administered.
Cataract, mostly associated with old age, is a medical condition where the eye lens becomes progressively opaque, resulting in blurred vision or blindness.
“People have come out in large numbers. I am sure this life-changing camp will transform the health of those with vision problems. Our partners have also donated various equipment among them: autokeratometer, trial sets, operation beds, operation stools, readers, consumables, non-pharmaceutical commodities, eye drugs and others,” said Governor Mutula after launching the camp.
Mutula, who also commissioned Makindu Eye Clinic, advised those suffering from eye illnesses to take advantage of the camp as well as visit the new unit for check-ups and medication.
Governor Mutula’s move comes as a result of joint eye camp partnership between the county, AMA group, Kenya Society for the blind supported by Charity Vision and One sight and Fred Hollow Foundation-an Australian organization.

Governor Mutula roots for Investment in Community Health for better healthcare

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr has expressed his commitment towards supporting community health provision to bridge the health services access gap by far-to-reach and vulnerable populations in Makueni.
Speaking during a courtesy call by the Chief Executive Officer Financing Alliance for Health Dr. Angela Gichaga Thursday, Governor Mutula said investment in community health is the most important health investment his administration is working on.
Makueni County boasts of 3,625 community health promoters working under the Department of Health Services to deliver primary health services at household level.
Through a partnership with Financing Alliance for Health, the county government has succeeded in formulating a County Community Health Services Strategy (2021-2025) and the Makueni County Community Health Policy 2020-2030.