Uasin Gishu County Governor Dr. Jonathan Bii has unveiled plans to position the county as a premier tourist medical destination, highlighting the upgrading of health centres as a key strategy in achieving this aspiration.

With Eldoret set to be elevated to a City, the region is set to become a hub for cutting-edge medical facilities and services.

As part of its healthcare infrastructure, Uasin Gishu County prides itself on being home to an aflatoxin laboratory, making it the sole county in the North Rift region to house such a facility.

Speaking during an impromptu visit to Uasin Gishu County Hospital, Dr Bii lauded the ongoing transformation of the facility, attributing its success to the dedicated staff who have adeptly navigated challenges such as strikes and human resource management.

Expressing his commitment to transparent governance, Governor Bii emphasized the importance of close engagement with the community to better understand their needs, particularly as they entrust the county with their lives.

The Governor further disclosed plans to collaboratively work with educational institutions to revive internship programs and bolster attachments as a means of addressing human resource gaps within the healthcare sector.

” In a bid to enhance access to essential medications, we have partnered with Ampath to establish revolving fund pharmacies which provide affordable alternatives for clients who may face challenges accessing drugs that are out of the county’s pharmacy stock. This initiative has significantly improved the consistency of drug supplies, ensuring continuous availability to meet healthcare demands,” said Dr Bii.

Health Services County Executive Dr Abraham Serem highlighted the Departmental commitment to addressing Hepatitis A by procuring testing kits to assess potential underlying conditions in affected individuals, particularly children.

“We have initiated proactive measures to mitigate the spread of the viral disease with a focus on comprehensive health screenings and containment strategies across health facilities and schools in Segero and Ziwa,” said Dr Serem.

Attributing the prevalence of health issues to factors such as sanitation challenges exacerbated by prolonged rainfall, Dr. Serem noted the collaborative efforts with the Ministry of Health and MTRH to address root causes and enhance healthcare outcomes.

Present were Chief Officers Dr Joyce Sang (Clinical Services), Dr Paul Wangwe (Promotive and Preventive Health), Directors Dr Evans Kiprotich (Health Services), Dr Sarah Kipkulei (Administration and Planning) and Silah Terigin (Governor’s Press).