Lodwar- May 21, 2025 (Public Communications and Media Relations)
The Department of Health and Sanitation held talks with World Relief Kenya to discuss the possibility of establishing a mobile clinics in Turkana North.
The move is expected to improve access to healthcare services in the expansive region.
The partner, will also work with Wheaton Bible Church, West Illinois Chicago USA and Parklands Baptist Church Nairobi Kenya to implement the initiative.
Turkana County is vast and extends over 77,000 square kilometers posing a challenge to healthcare workers to reach the most remote areas. The referral from these remote locations causes delays due to long distances. Establishing a mobile clinic will improve response time and complement the healthcare service provision as this mobile clinic can go to the needed places.
The mobile clinic outreach would provide a range of integrated primary healthcare services including health promotion, disease prevention, growth monitoring, nutrition counselling, diagnosis, treatment of common illnesses and Referral linkage to appropriate health facilities.
According to Sarah Akiru, Deputy Director of Policy Planning, M&E and Partnership Coordination, the role of the county government is ensuring effective partnerships and collaboration that improve the quality of lives or the people of Turkana.
“Our role is to improve service delivery, and we invite partners who are going to complement our efforts in ensuring improved access to healthcare,” she said.
Akiru also highlighted that a committee established during the meeting comprising of senior department officers and partners will meet in June to review the shared designs of the mobile clinic, discuss roles and responsibilities, cost implications and agree on the signing of Letter of Engagement.
Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Director Medical Services Dr Bonventure Ameyo affirmed that the mobile clinics will ease the travel distance of patients in the remote areas, hence enhancing timely access to health care services.
“We are transitioning to take health services to the doorsteps of remote communities in effort to ensure improved health service delivery,” he said.
Deputy Director Primary Health Care Peter Ekope highlighted the importance of mobile clinics as they will establish connections with local health facilities and referrals to improve access to patient care pathways.
“Mobile clinics have been designed to reduce distance covered by patients in seeking medical care,” he said.
According to Oliver Otsimi, Country Director World Relief Kenya, the meeting helped with identifying and evaluating county health priorities towards improving health indicators and impacting service delivery.
“We will coordinate with the county to facilitate support to establish mobile clinics that will enhance mobile outreach program for nomadic and hard-to-reach communities,” he said.
Micah Ikachoi, Team Lead World Relief Turkana outlined each of the partners role including support for operations and vehicle deployment, medical supplies and equipment, community mobilization and operational collaboration.
Senior Pastor at Wheaton Bible Church, Pastor Kyle Reshcke mentioned that with strong collaboration, the program gears toward healthcare access through provision of health services by use of mobile clinics ultimately resulting to improved health service delivery.
In attendance were County Health Management Team, Medical Officer of Health Daniel Lokiriama (Turkana North), and representatives from World Relief Team, Wheaton Bible Church and Parklands Baptist Church Officials.
