The Senate Health Committee has urged the Kisii County government to address gaps identified at the Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital (KTRH) to improve service delivery in the county. Speaking during a fact-finding mission at the facility, the Committee Chairperson, Senator Jackson Mandago said the team together with the County Assembly Health Committee members had jointly inspected the facility and pinpointed challenges that required urgent interventions. Mandago noted the inadequate supply of oxygen at the hospital theatres saying that one year ago, KTRH was not only able to supply their oxygen but also supplied nearby health facilities and neighbouring counties. ‘We would like to urge the county government to go back to that and ensure the oxygen facility is working,’ he said. The Senator highlighted the lack of record keeping at the pharmaceutical stores and called for the digitization of the records adding that the exercise would help to determine reorder levels and whether the drugs were used within the facility or outside. Mandago urged the county government to conduct general repairs at the facility from time to time and instructed the Public Health Officer in charge of the facility to ensure the incinerator was functional. Notably, he lauded the hospital for offering exceptional services at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and the mortuary adding that the services at the morgue can only be compared to those offered at private homes. The Senator encouraged healthcare providers to ensure they are working to support the patients despite the challenges posed. Senator Esther Okenyuri decried the low number of expectant mothers receiving prenatal care at the facility. Okenyuri called upon the Community Health Promoters (CHPs) in the county to mop up expectant mothers in the county to ensure they benefit from prenatal and postnatal care services offered at the health facilities. Kisii County Assembly Health Committee Member, Amos Onderi said the visit was essential to establish the gaps in the health sector, both in service delivery and demand creation so that the county can be able to bridge those gaps. Onderi who is the MCA Bokimonge Ward, urged the Committee to recommend a Regional Screening Center in the region since the blood transfused at the hospital is usually transported for screening in Nairobi. He also requested support in strengthening commodity management as well as the provision of pharmaceuticals at the chest clinic for intensive cases and continuation case management for tuberculosis (TB) cases at the hospital. Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka said the exercise will enable the county to come up with recommendations and persuade the national government to support the health facilities with additional funding. Onyonka urged the county government to ensure the health facilities are functional adding that Kisii Governor Simba Arati should be proactive in operationalizing facilities such as the Mother and Child Hospital so that it becomes a success story after five years.

Source: Kenya News Agency