Lodwar- August 7, 20 25 (Public Communication and Media Relations)
In a step toward building climate-resilient healthcare systems, the county government has been acquainted with two research projects aimed at transforming how health facilities respond to increasing climate shocks and health service demands in the region.
The studies—Africa’s First Referral Hospitals, Innovation and Care (AFRHiCARE) and the Novel Extreme Weather Risk Insurance System for Kenya (NEWRISK)—will focus on enhancing healthcare delivery through smarter workforce deployment, technology integration, and innovative climate risk insurance models.
Both projects, supported by KEMRI-Wellcome Trust, are scheduled to begin from September 2025 and will target vulnerable populations in Turkana’s arid and semi-arid landscapes.
Speaking during the stakeholder meeting, Director for Medical Services, Dr Ekiru Kidalio welcomed the initiative, calling it crucial for Turkana’s healthcare system.
“This research offers sustainable solutions to challenges such as geographical vastness, nomadism, stockouts, and high patient workloads, issues that continually hinder service delivery to our most vulnerable populations,” he said.
Prof Benjamin Tsofa, a lead researcher and Co-Principal Investigator, NEWRISK project, noted that the project will provide much-needed data for targeted interventions.
“Facilities affected by climate stress will be able to quantify risk and receive tailored support—ranging from disease surveillance and referrals to preventive screening and system-wide strengthening,” he said.
The research will involve mapping services in Level 2 to Level 5 health facilities and collecting data from select sites in all sub-counties, focusing on climate-related vulnerabilities such as food insecurity, health access, income levels, and pre-existing health conditions.
Prof Mike English, Principal Investigator AFRHiCARE project, mentioned that by assessing health gaps, vulnerable healthcare facilities will be enabled to create sustainable interventions integrated with existing solutions to refine health services in the future.
Prof Jacob McKnight, Principal Investigator for NEWRISK project, articulated that the study will set to provide data, conduct population analysis, and map out healthcare facilities, which are unable to access medical services in distant areas.
KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Program Officer Kenneth Karumba emphasized the role of the project in strengthening preparedness and long-term health planning.
“The goal is to protect health systems from extreme climate-related shocks while empowering communities to engage in solutions that enhance resilience,” he explained.
The County Government has called on development partners, community leaders, and donors to rally behind the study, noting its potential to shape policy, preparedness, and future investments in healthcare resilience across arid and vulnerable regions.
The meeting was attended by the County Health Management Team and representatives from the KEMRI-Wellcome Trust research team, marking a unified step toward evidence-based solutions for Turkana’s health sector.
