The national government is set to strengthen healthcare services in Elgeyo Marakwet County through strategic partnerships and digitization of health systems.
Principal Secretary for Medical Services Harry Kimtai made the announcement during a tree-planting exercise at Yokot Dam in Elgeyo Marakwet County.
PS Kimtai also revealed that national referral hospitals will partner with Iten County Referral Hospital (ICRH) to support specialized medical operations in the county.
“We have agreed to develop a roster where every month, an advanced team of doctors from our national referral hospitals will be sent to Iten to assist with specific operations and medical care,” he said adding, “This will ensure that patients who require specialized services don’t have to travel long distances.”
Kimtai emphasized that the partnership aims to bridge the gap in access to specialized healthcare services in the county. “The specialists will be available on specific days to support county health teams and handle complex cases,” he added.
On the rollout of the Social Health Authority (SHA) program, Kimtai said Elgeyo Marakwet County is among the top ten counties selected to pilot the digitization of health services. “The digitization team will be visiting the county next week. Our aim is to train healthcare workers on the benefits of SHA packages, and how to lodge claims, and utilize the hospital management system effectively,” he stated.
Kimtai acknowledged that many health facilities struggle with lodging claims, which affect service delivery. “We have realized that most facilities are facing challenges with claims. We want to equip healthcare workers with the necessary skills to ensure smooth operations,” he said.
According to the PS, the national government targets having all health facilities across the country digitized by September 2025. “This is a national plan, and by September, we expect that every healthcare facility will be operating digitally. Elgeyo Marakwet is among the top five counties in SHA registration, and I want to commend the county for this achievement,” Kimtai noted.
The PS also emphasized the link between health and environmental conservation, urging communities to embrace tree planting as a way of safeguarding both their environment and health.
“Health and environment go hand in hand. When we conserve the environment, we reduce the chances of getting sick,” Kimtai said, stressing, “It’s important that as we conserve the environment, we also focus on the health of the community.”
He encouraged residents to plant not only ordinary trees but also fruit trees, which are beneficial to the community. “We want to make this a continuous program. Communities must be fully involved because they are the ones who will care for the trees,” he said.
He noted that the tree planting at Yokot Dam was meant to protect the dam’s catchment area. “The dam is crucial to the community for irrigation. We must protect it from siltation because too much erosion reduces its capacity,” he explained.
Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Wisley Rotich, who also attended the event, pledged the county’s support for the partnership with the Kenya Forest Service (KFS), the Ministry of Health, and other stakeholders in accelerating tree planting and environmental conservation.
“We will work together with KFS and the people of Elgeyo Marakwet to ensure accelerated tree planting and growing programs. Environmental conservation is a shared responsibility,” said Governor Rotich.
The governor also lauded the county’s progress in SHA registration and compliance, with all 131 public health facilities actively participating. However, he acknowledged the challenges that he attributed to mainly limited information flow to both health workers and patients.
“There are challenges, especially regarding information flow. Many health workers and patients don’t fully understand the SHA system. We are glad the ministry has agreed to work with us to ensure our people and health workers are empowered to make claims under SHA. This will help sustain our health services,” he explained.
By Rennish Okong’o
