Turkana North- September 27, 2025 (Public Communications and Media Relations)
The Department of Health and Sanitation has concluded a five-day joint support supervision in Turkana North, aimed at improving service delivery and strengthening community health systems.
The exercise, supported by Save the Children, assessed facilities and services at Lokitaung Sub-County Hospital, Lomekwi, Nachukui, Riokomor, Moruangibuin, and Naduat dispensaries, as well as Lowarengak and Kaaleng Health Centres.
The supervision focused on supporting community outreaches, verifying health data quality, assessing staffing needs, governance, and financial management, and reviewing delivery of the Kenya Essential Package for Health (KEPH) including immunization, and essential medicines, and medical supplies. The supervision also included a component on utilities, equipment, infrastructure, and the general environment of the facilities.
The team was led by Chief Officer for Preventive and Promotive Health Services, Janerose Tioko, and comprised an 11-member delegation from both the County Government and the Turkana North Sub-County Health Management Teams, with representatives from Monitoring and Evaluation, Medical Services, Nutrition, and Nursing.
The supervision was triggered by inconsistencies in the data received from health facilities and outreaches in this region, particularly reports of high defaulter rates for malnourished children under the age of five.
At Kaekoropus outreach site, attached to Riokomor Dispensary, CCO Tioko was pleased with the uptake of immunization which was found to be optimal. “From infants to the elderly, these outreaches bring services close, improving nutrition outcomes for our children,” said Paulina Moru, a Community Health Volunteer.
Apalia Johnstone, Nursing Officer and Riokomor Facility-in-Charge, noted that outreaches attract over 150 patients at a time, far more than facilities record in two weeks. His sentiments were echoed in the other outreaches.
Community members, however, raised concerns about long distances to health facilities, especially between Kangarokia Village and Riokomor Dispensary, discouraging timely health-seeking behavior.
Village elder John Ekaran appreciated the value of outreaches, while calling for permanent facilities, “These mothers walk long distances under the sun with infants. We need a hospital close to our people,”
In her response, CCO Tioko assured residents that the County Government, under the Governor’s leadership, has already enlisted a contractor to construct Kangarokia Dispensary, on land already donated by the community.
“Outreaches also help residents without national identification or Social Health Authority (SHA) cards to register,” said Lochomin Mariko, a CHP from the Kaekongo outreach site. Philip Lokodetmoe added, “They encourage men, who often avoid health facilities, to seek care,”
Director of Policy, Planning, Research, Monitoring and Evaluation, James Lobokan, emphasized the importance of quality health data in affecting decision-making and planning processes.
“Any breach of data affects planning and service delivery. This supervision was also an opportunity to interact with the data managers at the sub-county and mentor them towards better data production,” he shared.
According to Save the Children Programme Officer, Dominic Ekal, 25 outreach sites in Turkana North have been supported over the past two years under the Humanitarian Fund, a collaboration between the county government and Save the children, targeting villages with high malnutrition.
Sr. Winfred Sivu, Facility-in-Charge at Lowarengak Health Centre reported increased malaria cases since May, raising concern about stock depletion. Pharmacist in the supervision team, Javan Inda, however, confirmed sufficient countywide stocks to cushion the Lakezone until the next scheduled supply.
Sub-County Nutrition Officer, Jemester Kakuta, noted improvements in data and register management in all outreaches. “”The ongoing support for these outreaches have improved quality of data registers,”
Sub-County Public Health Nurse, Thomas Napas, highlighted that undeserved villages were reached and severe malnutrition cases were fewer than in past outreaches.
Sub-County MOH, Daniel Echor, said “Supervision is a morale booster. County oversight strengthens our advocacy and improves our data reporting. This is an accelerated advocacy, because their findings will back our reports,”
Facility-in-charges Wycliff Nyakina (Kaaleng Health Centre), Samuel Simiyu (Naduat Dispensary), and Wambua Kioko (Moruangibuin Dispensary) all agreed the exercise was eye-opening and committed to applying lessons learned to improve reporting and service delivery.
