Category: General

Boats business owners in Garissa and Madogo are now making hundreds of thousands in profit to transport stranded passengers travelling to or from Garissa.

The boats, which are normally used for rescue missions in River Tana are charging at least Sh1500 for the four-kilometre road stretch between Madogo and Garissa which has been destroyed by floods.

Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) from Nairobi to Garissa and Wajir are dropping their passengers at Madogo who are then forced to board boats to Garissa and connect with other buses to Wajir on that side.

Those travelling from Garissa to Nairobi have to board motor boats to Madogo so that they can get buses to continue with their journey.

At the same time supply lorries to Wajir and Mandera counties have resorted to go back through Embu to use the Meru – Isiolo – Modogashe road to connect to Wajir.

Residents we spoke to expressed their dissatisfaction with the way the repairs of the road section has dragged since December last year and want the government to mo
ve with speed to repair the road sections.

‘We are hustlers and all the people here who work in Garissa Town cannot afford to pay Sh1500 to go to work for Sh500 a day. This is not ideal for us and we want the government to move with speed and repair this road so that we can put this mess to and end when the rains come,’ said one Madogo resident.

‘We only spend Sh30 using matatus and Sh50 on boda bodas on normal days on this road. Today we are being charged Sh1500. This is not right,’ added another.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Nandi County Commissioner Caroline Nzwili has called on residents living in landslides prone areas in Tinderet Sub-County to move to safer grounds as the region continues to experience enhanced rains according to the meteorological department report.

Commissioner Nzwili warned that the locals should not wait for disaster to happen but comply with government directive and keep off hot spot landslide hills in the Sub-County.

Speaking during public participation on the affordable housing draft at Kapsabet High School, the County Commissioner insisted that chiefs and their assistants have been directed to ensure residents in landslide prone areas are moved to safer locations.

‘Let us comply with our chiefs and take necessary actions as the region continues To receive heavy rains,’ Commissioner Nzwili said.

She also asked parents to ensure the safety of children as they open schools, especially those using makeshift bridges to reach their schools across the county.

The County commissioner said the County Gove
rnment disaster preparedness team, National Government Administrative Officers are closely monitoring landslides prone areas, flush floods along rivers, water fill up mines and quarries as areas of urgent attention as the schools open on Monday.

While speaking on Friday at the launch of County Bursary Fund in Aldai, Nandi County Stephen Sang said residents living in landslide prone hills in Tinderet Sub-County will receive avocado and coffee seedlings to make those farms productive as they locate to safer zones, Sang said.

‘We are going to ensure those Tinderet Hills known for landslides remain avocado and coffee rich areas for the locals even though not fit habitation’

Both leaders pleaded with locals to be careful even though the county hasn’t experience damages caused by rains as the case in various parts of the country.

On the affordable housing draft, the county commissioner asked those attending the public participation forum to enrich themselves with affordable housing information and pass it to th
e locals who have little or no knowledge at all.

Nzwili asked the locals to support the affordable housing agenda since some locals had secured employment working on Emgwen Constituency affordable housing project with proposed 220 units when they are completed in September.

Officials from affordable housing Nairobi had met county housing stakeholders, chiefs, church representatives, civil society groups and marginalised groups in Kapsabet Boys School hall to discuss and give their deliberations on the proposed affordable house draft.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Over 70 persons carried out a free genotype screening organized by the Bravelife Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting persons living with the Sickle Cell Disease (SCD).

This featured an awareness session on sickle cell which also had the donation of some needful materials to persons suffering from the disease.

The activity at Women Empowerment Centre, Buea on Saturday, April 27, 2024 was dedicated to enhancing the well-being and health of individuals affected by sickle cell disease, with the goal of enhancing their overall quality of life.

The Bravelife Foundation is committed to bolstering the management and treatment of the disease, disseminating crucial awareness and information about sickle cell disease in Cameroon, and amplifying efforts to advocate against the stigma often linked with this condition.

The gifts to persons living with SCD compromised of a water bottle, folic acid, packs of paracetamol and scarfs. The founder of Bravelife, Marie-Claire Kofi, United Kingdom based, lives w
ith the sickle cell disease. She has birth two children and is a firm advocate for those living with the disease.

‘I want to be able to support people with sickle cell disease in our community. So many people and children are dying because of SCD which has lived with us for as long as I remember and still we are not equipped to save their lives,’ Marie-Claire Kofi explained.

Bravelife Foundation plans to work with stakeholders to provide education, sensitisation and support. Also to lay down a protocol to enable those living with SCD receive better treatment. During pain crisis, the effects not only hits the disease carrier but those around mentally, financially and emotionally.

Meryline Limnyuy, a mother of three with one living with SCD says it is daunting caring for her son. ‘I’ve suffered alot, walking from one hospital to another,’ she hinted. She found herself in the situation because she didn’t take seriously a genotype test before marriage.

A genotype test cost about 8000 fcfa francs says Mr. Taka
ng Nkwele, Lab scientist at the Regional Hospital Annex in Kumba. He cautioned that it is important to do a genotype test before building any solid relationship or indulging in child bearing activities.

Marie-Claire Kofi said the government had to assist those living with SCD adequately by providing training for Hematologist – specialist in blood related disease – in Cameroon. The founder of the Bravelife Foundation, is optimistic that this will save the lives of many, curb sickle cell related deaths and break the myth of sickle cell expectancy of 21 years.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

Kwale county government is out to address maternal and newborn health disparities in the coastal county and end maternal mortality.

Governor Fatuma Achani says the devolved government is out to improve the quality of care for maternal, newborn and child health.

Achani says receiving care at health facilities is crucial for maternal and newborn health.

‘As a devolved unit we are out to increase access and coverage of health services for mothers and children to counter the numerous challenges faced by women and newborns during and after childbirths,’ she said.

The governor spoke at the Msambweni Referral Hospital during the groundbreaking ceremony of a Sh36.2 million modern maternity newborn units and child health complex.

She said with the increase in demand for newborn babies who need intensive medical care in Kwale, the county government in partnership with M-PESA foundation has set aside Sh36.2 million for the construction of maternity newborn unit and child health complex at Msambweni Referral Hospita
l in Msambweni Sub County.

Achani noted that the modern newborn unit facility is expected to serve all the residents across the county and improve the quality of care for maternal and newborn health in the region.

‘We requested support from the Safaricom foundation and they responded well to our call and today we have received Sh30 million which will go towards the construction of our newborn unit here in Msambweni hospital,’ she said, adding that the county government topped up with Sh6.2 million.

Achani said the county government will keep on engaging the private sector to deliver quality maternal and newborn healthcare services in the realization of universal health coverage.

The Governor said the new facility would go a long way in alleviating the myriad health challenges expectant mothers faced over the years.

Achani thanked the Safaricom Foundation for supporting the county government in terms of project implementation stating that the new facility will bring a significant change in terms of health
service delivery to the patients across the county and is expected to be complete in 3 months’ time.

‘This project which is being done in collaboration with the M-PESA Foundation, is a testament to my commitment to improving maternal and child healthcare across Kwale,’ said Achani, adding that to achieve universal health coverage the health systems must increase the coverage, quality and equity of interventions.

She says the specialist wings will be equipped with modern facilities that would help reduce the rate of maternal mortality in Kwale.

The coastal county boss revealed that the new facility will be equipped with top-of-the-art amenities including an Intensive Care Unit (ICU), High Dependency Unit (HDU), Kangaroo room, laundry area, and a staff lounge.

‘The ICU and HDU will be fully equipped with state-of-the-art medical equipment and technology to provide the best possible care to newborns while the Kangaroo room will provide a cozy and comfortable environment for mothers and their babies to bond,’
she said.

She further said the laundry area will ensure that all linen and clothing are clean and hygienic while the staff lounge will provide a comfortable space for hospital staff to rest and recharge.

‘My administration is dedicated to ensuring that every newborn receives the care and support they deserve from day one in a bid to increase the success rate in child survival after birth,’ she said adding that the county government will seek to improve care for women and their babies during pregnancy and childbirth.

She observed that the Msambweni referral hospital will engage qualified health personnel and proper medical equipment to achieve its purpose of ending maternal mortality in the coastal region.

Anne Eriksson, a trustee from the Safaricom Foundation said that they have been partnering with Kwale County on various development projects touching on agriculture, education, water and other economic empowerment sectors.

‘The MPESA foundation has invested over Sh316 million in various development and
community projects in Kwale over the past few years and we will keep on collaborating with the devolved government for the sake of posterity,’ she said.

The governor said the Safaricom Foundation team will come back to Kwale after three months to commission the new maternity and neonatal care unit with emergency and recovery rooms, and delivery wards in Msambweni referral hospital.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The Ministry of Health has commissioned the Zipline plant to distribute blood products and vaccines to hospitals in Kisumu and Homa Bay Counties using drones.

Drones technology seeks to slash the delivery time of life-saving medical products to the remotest places from five hours to an average of 45 minutes, thus reducing maternal deaths and incidences of malaria-induced anaemia.

Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha speaking about the official launch of the service in Chemelil, Kisumu County, said the development marks a significant milestone in enhancing healthcare access and attaining Universal Health Coverage.

‘The launch of drone deliveries for blood and vaccines is a transformative moment for healthcare in Kenya.

This technology has the potential to revolutionize access to critical medical supplies, particularly in remote areas, and significantly reduce malaria burden,’ she said.

Transporting blood and blood products to where they are required faces considerable hurdles because of intricate sup
ply chains, short shelf life and fluctuating demand. The initiative seeks to address these challenges.

Zipline adopts a centralized stock approach and implements on-demand delivery meaning that health facilities need not store blood resulting in less waste as blood spoils quickly.

The firm has partnered with the Kenya National Blood Transfusion Services and the Kisumu Regional Blood Transfusion Center to stock and deliver the product quickly and efficiently.

Miki Sofer, Zipline Vice President of Health Partnerships said the project targets serving health facilities in Kisumu and Homa Bay counties in phase one before gradually rolling out the services to the Lake Region Economic Bloc (LREB).

‘We are here to celebrate one of the many milestones coming from our partnership with the County Government of Kisumu to reach the unreachable and enable healthcare access. This development coincides with the World Malaria Day celebrations, as we have launched the delivery of life-saving blood and vaccines that are cri
tical to curbing the effects of severe malaria,’ Sofer said.

The National Vaccines and Immunization Program (NVIP) approved the distribution of vaccines as well as malaria tests and treatment kits, which underscores the importance of leveraging technology in curbing malaria mortality rates in the LREB region.

In a speech read on his behalf by his Deputy Dr. Mathews Owili, Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o said, ‘As we strive towards Universal Health Coverage, the government must enter strategic partnerships to ensure that health building blocks and innovative solutions and logistics management of medical supplies will play a vital role. I commend our partnership with Zipline, which has already made over 6,300 deliveries of life-saving commodities since its inception in February 2023.’

Zipline, a US-based company signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Kisumu County to establish its regional distribution hub in the lakeside county in February 2023.

Since its inception, it has successfully made over 6,300 co
mmercial deliveries of life-saving medical supplies to over 400 health facilities.

The deliveries to these health facilities have included medicines such as oxytocin – a drug used to control bleeding during childbirth, snake antivenom and anti-rabies vials used in emergency cases of snake and dog bites respectively.

Further, Kisumu County Livestock Department relies on Zipline drones to deliver livestock semen to veterinarians in distant places for use in artificial insemination to facilitate farmers’ access to improved breeds and boost animal production.

In Africa, Zipline also operates in Rwanda, Ghana, Nigeria, Cote D’Ivoire and Tanzania.

Source: Kenya News Agency