Lodwar- October 1, 2025 (Public Communications and Media Relations)
Kapedo Sub-County Hospital is winning community trust through teamwork, improved leadership, and reliable drug supplies. Patient attendance has doubled, health-seeking behaviour is on the rise, and the facility is serving as a beacon of hope for over 23,000 residents despite insecurity challenges.
Kapedo Sub-County Hospital is licensed and registered by the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) and serves as a comprehensive hospital for Suguta Sub-County.
With 25 dedicated staff members and 60 inpatient beds (including maternity and general wards), the facility provides critical services such as treatment of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis and specialised antenatal care for high-risk pregnancies.
On average, the hospital serves about 30 patients daily, with respiratory tract infections, malaria, and pneumonia being the most common illnesses.
By offering these services locally, the hospital has significantly reduced the burden of referrals and long-distance travel for patients.
Despite being located in an insecurity-prone area, the hospital has undergone a remarkable turnaround following a leadership change earlier this year.
This new direction has improved healthcare service delivery for both the host and West Pokot communities, fostering peaceful coexistence and reducing conflicts.
Health-seeking behaviour has also improved, thanks to the support of 14 Community Health Promoters (CHPs) serving 441 households. Through house-to-house visits, timely referrals, and community dialogues, more residents are registering with the Social Health Authority (SHA) and seeking care at the facility.
Compared to previous years, community trust in healthcare workers has grown. Attendance has doubled from an average of 300 patients per month to about 600. “Antenatal care patients, children under five, and lactating mothers have also increased from nine to 15 per day,” said Medical Superintendent Bengunn Ewoi.
The positive change is credited to a well-coordinated team effort. The Medical Superintendent, Administrator Antony Korinyang, and Nurse In-charge Timothy Cheserek have worked closely to streamline services and build community confidence. Their work is complemented by the dedication of Evans Lopeyok, the attending clerk, who has earned community trust through his consistent presence and service, even in times of conflict.
“The community has acknowledged the efficient health services we provide despite limited resources and insecurity challenges,” said Korinyang. “We liaise with security agencies to ensure staff and patients are safe and always adhere to emergency protocols.”
Dr Gilchrist Lokoel, Chief Officer Medical Services, is proud of the team’s commitment. “We are happy as a department to see this gradual yet progressive transformation of health care and by extension service delivery from the most peripheral and remote areas of our county,”
He added that this is a testament to the governor’s fourth agenda of ensuring a responsive health care system to the citizenry of Turkana.
A steady supply of drugs from the county government has also been key to sustaining improved operations. This has boosted staff morale, enhanced patient satisfaction, and strengthened the hospital’s role as a trusted provider of healthcare.
Additionally, the ongoing government projects, including the extension of electricity and tarmacking of the Chemolingot–Kapedo road, are expected to further improve hospital amenities and accessibility.
The team is not only transforming healthcare delivery but also encouraging more residents to seek timely medical care, proving that even in challenging environments, a motivated team can make a lasting impact.
Story by: Esther Mwangi – Assistant Director, Public Communications and Media Relations
