Health

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr has pledged his support to the Kenya National Union of Clinical Officers, Eastern Region, assuring them that he will present their memorandum of understanding to the Council of Governors (COG) for prompt action.

Addressing the clinical officers who have been staging demonstrations across the country, Governor Mutula affirmed his commitment to addressing their concerns. As the chair of the COG’s Legal, Constitutional Affairs & Intergovernmental Relations Committee, he vowed to ensure that their issues are brought to the council’s attention and resolved.

According to the KUCO national chair , Peterson Wachira, the national government signed an agreement with the union in 2021 to increase their risk allowances from KSH 3,000 to KSH 15,000.

However, the Council of Governors’ is yet to sign the deal.

Mr. Wachira also criticized the council for failing to honor a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) for salary increments, which has been under negotiation since 2019.

He also highlighted the unfair handling of the staff recruited by the National ministry of health under the UHC program across the country who require absorption to permanent and pensionable terms.Other issues include delayed promotions, poor working conditions and widespread staff shortage

In response, Governor Mutula promised to facilitate the promotion of officers working in Makueni who are due for advancement to the next job groups. He highlighted that the county has developed a staff establishment plan aimed at resolving promotion issues, ensuring that deserving clinical officers receive their due advancements.

Acknowledging that Makueni had addressed the county specific issues that led to the 64 day national strike, Governor Mutula committed to reach out to all stakeholders to address the raised nationwide grievancies.

Governor Mutula’s commitment underscores the importance of addressing the concerns of healthcare workers and ensuring that their welfare is prioritized for better service delivery in the region.

On Monday, Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr welcomed a high-powered delegation from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Center for International Health, Education, and Biosecurity-Kenya (CIHEB-Kenya) to Makueni for a review of the Uzinduzi project’s progress for the half year of this financial year.

The Uzinduzi project, funded by the CDC and the Makueni County Government, provides HIV delivery services in Mbooni sub-county. This financial year, the project received an allocation of Ksh.22,085,700 and is set to receive Ksh 26,198,640 in the coming financial year. Additionally, the Department of Health Services has allocated KSH 3 million for the next financial year.

The collaboration between the US CDC and Makueni County is pivotal in the fight to eliminate HIV by 2027.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr emphasized the county’s commitment to enhancing HIV awareness campaigns, stressing that no one should suffer from HIV when universally accessible medications are available to suppress the viral load or prevent infection.

The discussions also covered plans for accountability and sustainability, leveraging primary care networks to improve outcomes, and addressing challenges in human resource transitions, health financing, and grants management.

287 women and girls in Makueni are celebrating this year’s International Day to End Fistula with renewed energy and hope after successful corrective surgeries.

Mary Cosmus, who had endured this condition for 48 years, is one such woman. She was born with the condition and had endured a life of ridicule, neglect, and solitude, as no one wanted to associate with her.

The surgeries, conducted at the Mother and Child Hospital in Wote, are part of a joint campaign by the Makueni County Government and Jhpiego to end this preventable condition.

County First Lady Anita Mutula, who led Makueni residents in marking this day, reaffirmed her commitment to raise awareness about fistula and advocate for better reproductive, maternal, and child health to prevent incidences of fistula.

Acting County Executive Committee Member for Health Services Elizabeth Muli said 73 more cases are lined up for surgery while appreciating the tremendous support of partners towards this cause.

Successful Surgeries Bring Relief to Women Suffering from Fistula in Makueni

At least 11 women suffering from fistula-related complications breathed a sigh of relief following successful surgeries yesterday at the Mother and Child Hospital. Additional surgeries are planned for today.

Dr. Doris Mbithi, the fistula surgeon in Makueni, stated that the hospital has admitted 50 women awaiting surgery. So far, they have screened at least 148 women and are encouraging more to come forward for screening.

The county government has partnered with Jhpiego to address and reduce the prevalence of fistula among Makueni residents. The Department of Health is also offering free fistula screenings from May 17, 2024, to May 24, 2024.

Makueni is set to host the National and International Day of Ending Fistula on May 23, 2024.

[WOTE] May 14,2024

Makueni Department of Health Services Collaborates with NHIF to Enhance Revenue Collection

In a move to enhance own source revenue in Makueni County, the Department of Health Services, led by Ag. CECM Ms. Elizabeth Muli, held a consultative meeting on Tuesday with NHIF Wote Branch, headed by Branch Manager Mr. David Kimanzi.

Key initiatives discussed included:

– Ensuring all hospitals are able to register NHIF patients across 24-hours in all hospitals.

– Collaborating with NHIF to correctly classify all hospitals to their operational levels (Level 4 and Level 5)

– Ensuring timely claims processing through weekly submissions by all facilities.

The Department of Health Services expressed appreciation for NHIF’s support, while NHIF reiterated its commitment to efficient claims processing despite high workloads.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr inspects newly constructed maternity wing at Ngwata Health Centre during a development tour of Masongaleni Ward. The hospital has missed this facility since its establishment in 1973

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr on Thursday hosted a high powered delegation from Jhpiego, led by Dr. Eva Lathrop, Senior Director of Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn & Adolescent Healthcare (RMNCAH), to discuss Jhpiego’s maternal health initiatives in the county.

Jhpiego supports Makueni in Accelerating Measurable Progress and leveraging Investments for Postpartum Hemorrhage Impact (AMPLI -PPHI), Obstetric Safe Surgery/Proximie(OSS), Networks of Care (ARC), Accelerating Post-pregnancy Family planning into Primary health care in Kenya (APIP) and Obstetric Fistula (OF).

The maternal initiatives have so far increased uptake of post pregnancy family planning, reduced facility based maternal mortalities as well as improved skills of health care providers in managing maternal and newborn services and strengthen referral and collaboration between facilities.

The delegation will spend two days visiting Mother and child hospital in Wote, Kibwezi and Makindu Sub county hospitals to evaluate program effectiveness.

Makueni Health Services Department Engages Partners for Enhanced Healthcare.

Makueni’s health services docket has introduced a collaborative work plan involving 90 partners to streamline healthcare and prevent duplication in a meeting at Kusyombuguo hotel in Wote on Monday.

Acting County ExecutiveCommittee Member Elizabeth Muli outlined key focus areas such as automating commodity management, eradicating rabies, and establishing modern healthcare facilities among others.

Muli reiterated the county’s dedication to improving primary healthcare access and addressing various health challenges.She observed that the department has a responsibility to order medical supplies in time and avoid stock out.

She rallied healthcare workers in the county to actively contribute to improving the lives of residents,emphasizing the tangible impact required for achieving universal health coverage.

Damaris Kavoi, County Executive Committee Member for Finance, emphasized financial prudence and pledged support towards sustainable healthcare funding.

Among those in attendance were Chief officer health services Dr.Stephen Ndolo,CEO Martha Munyao of Makueni County Referral Hospital and Acting Director of Health Services Dr. Stephen Mwatha, among others.