The transformation of primary healthcare is taking root at the grassroots, with residents of Nyarkulian in West Pokot increasingly accessing essential health services closer to home.
During a Health Development tour of the county, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale visited Sondany Dispensary, where he assessed the steady progress in strengthening primary healthcare delivery and expanding access to affordable services under the Government’s Universal Health Coverage(UHC) agenda.
At the facility, the CS was taken through the services being offered and the impact of the Social Health Authority (SHA), which is enabling more residents to access healthcare without the financial barriers that previously kept many families away from health facilities.
Sondany Dispensary maternal health services
One of the most notable outcomes at Sondany Dispensary is its sustained progress in maternal health. The facility has recorded zero maternal deaths since 2020, a milestone attributed in part to increased uptake of skilled birth attendance and improved access to maternity services.
Women delivering at the facility are now able to access free maternity services through SHA, reinforcing the Government’s commitment to ensuring that no mother or family is denied essential care because of inability to pay.
The CS also inspected a modernised wing currently nearing completion through a County Government project.
Recognising the growing demand for services at the facility, CS Duale pledged support from the National Government towards equipping the new wing, paving the way for its operationalisation and expansion of services to the surrounding community.
How many West Pokot residents have registered with SHA?
The progress at Sondany is part of a broader investment in strengthening healthcare across West Pokot.
More than 250,000 residents have so far registered with SHA, while the National Government has allocated Sh183 million to support the delivery of primary healthcare services in the county.
Duale urged residents who are yet to register with SHA to do so, noting that registration is key to unlocking the full range of health services under the Government’s health financing reforms.
The county is also set to benefit from a major expansion of health infrastructure.
Under President William Ruto’s initiative to establish 10 modernised Level 4 and Level 5 mother and child hospitals, Kabichbich in West Pokot has been identified as one of the sites for a new facility.
The investment is expected to expand access to specialised maternal and child healthcare and significantly strengthen the county’s referral capacity.
From the dispensary level to major referral infrastructure, the Government’s interventions are steadily reshaping healthcare delivery in West Pokot bringing services closer to communities, strengthening primary care and ensuring that quality healthcare becomes a reality for more Kenyans.
