16 Kajiado County recorded the highest rise in number of patients seeking medical services in government hospitals in the country.A new comparative report that evaluated citizen perception of government medical services in devolved units between January to June, 2017, against the same period in 2018, showed an increase of 45 per cent of patients in Kajiado hospitals.
Between January and June 2017, 129, 512 patients visited the top five Kajiado hospitals compared to187, 271 patients in the same period this year.The hospital records were drawn from Kajiado Referral Hospital, Ngong, Kitengela and Loitokitok Sub County Hospitals as well as Ongata Rongai Health Centers.In total, the five hospitals recorded a 130 per cent rise in the number of admissions with Kajiado Referral Hospital leading with a 172 per cent rise in admissions.
During the period under review, Loitokitok Hospital was a choice for majority of residents for patients Inpatient services. It admitted 3,560 patients, a 148 per cent, from the 1,431 patients that were admitted in 2017.Kajiado Referral Hospital followed closely with 2, 640 patients in the half year period compared to 971 patients last year.Skilled deliveries in County hospitals rose by 88 per cent after 4,724 women gave birth in hospitals compared to 2,513 women last year.At 1,370, Kitengela Hospital received the highest number of expectant mothers compared to 512 last year.Outpatient service seekers in Kajiado hospitals rose from 80,457 in the first half of 2017 to 125,037 in 2018. This was a 55 per cent increase.Ongata Rongai Health Centre, commonly known as Saitoti hospital, had 14,852 maternal cases in 2018 compared to 13,460 last year.
Health Chief Administrative Secretary Rashid Aman and Director of Medical Services Dr Jackson Kioko praised the transformation of Kajiado hospitals when they visited Kajiado County Referral hospital for the national celebrations of World Pneumonia Day.
Kajiado County Health Services CEC Member Esther Somoire attributed the endorsement of county health services to improved medical supplies and equipment that is now attracting more clients.” We are receiving patients from as far as Makueni, Machakos, Kiambu and Nairobi counties. Our new NHIF health cover is also enabling more people access our facilities.”
Governor Lenku, while speaking in Namanga during a development tour,said the report was a vote of confidence on the County’s Mbuzi Moja, Afya Bora Initiative that seeks to promote Universal Health for all Kajiado residents.“We shall keep pressing on to have more people enroll for the NHIF cover,” he said.
