Lodwar – September 24, 2025 (Public Communication and Media Relations)
The Department of Health and Sanitation, led by the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) Dr Esekon Joseph Epem, convened a high-level meeting with directorates of Medical Services, Preventive and Promotive Health, and Lodwar County Referral Hospital to deliberate on strategies to address key health priorities.
Discussions focused on mitigating the Kalazar outbreak, accelerating Social Health Authority (SHA) registration, and implementing the Facility Improvement Fund (FIF).
Kalazar remains a pressing challenge in Turkana. Healthcare workers have been battling rising cases since the first three were reported in June 2024. Numbers climbed to 94 in December 2024 and 125 by March 2025, with figures continuing to rise.
Dr Epem emphasized the importance of early identification and management of cases at the community level, backed by strong interventions, intensified public awareness, and behavior change to improve health-seeking practices.
“Health programs are meant to advance health priorities and ensure access and delivery of healthcare as the primary goal,” he said.
On SHA registration, Dr Epem noted the department’s efforts to expand outreach in markets, schools, and hospitals, while also encouraging the use of waiting cards to boost enrollment.
“We will be targeting schools during registration exercises, and we urge parents to register themselves and their eligible children. The same applies to college and university students,” he added.
To strengthen digital health systems, Dr Epem revealed plans to provide 450 digital devices to health facilities. These will improve the surveillance of health products and technologies, strengthen records management, and increase accountability in service delivery.
The CECM also directed the development of public awareness campaigns to encourage access to affordable phone and ID registration as part of efforts to increase SHA coverage.
Chief Officer for Medical Services Dr Gilchrist Lokoel highlighted plans to expand service coverage across all sub-counties through equitable distribution of essential health commodities to ensure availability and accessibility.
Chief Officer for Preventive and Promotive Health Janerose Tioko pointed out gaps in revenue collection at health facilities. She underscored the importance of proper financial management tools, such as cashbooks.
Dr Lokoel announced plans to deploy account clerks at sub-county levels to streamline facility finances.
The meeting also reviewed Turkana’s health indicators: Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) at 21%, Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) coverage at 86.3%, WASH facilities coverage at 58.6%, placenta disposal pits deficits at 21% of facilities, and gazetted health facilities at 174, with more awaiting gazettement.
Other issues discussed included tackling stock-outs, strengthening partnerships, mobilizing resources, integrated supervision, revising the organogram, and enhancing accountability and service delivery.
