Lodwar- March 4, 2025 (Public Communications and Media Relations)

The Department of Health and Sanitation has held a private sector stakeholder engagement to strengthen collaboration and partnership in delivering quality healthcare services.

The forum included participants from various sectors in financial services, hospitality, health, and higher educational institutions. The key priority areas discussed included strengthening sub-county hospitals to reduce referrals to Lodwar County Referral Hospital and addressing funding gaps in the through resource pooling.

The County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Health and Sanitation, Dr Joseph Epem, stated that the county health ministry was committed to ensuring sustainable financing for healthcare objectives.

“We are seeking to reprogram some initiatives in collaboration with the National Government to address the current funding gaps,” he said.

Dr Epem emphasized the importance of embracing Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) to drive digital transformation, “a superhighway”, in the sector. The digitization would facilitate interconnectivity between public and private healthcare facilities, which would enhance evidence-based reporting for budgeting.

County Chief Officer for Medical Services, Dr. Ezekiel Etelej highlighted the need for coordinated support to improve healthcare quality and engagement among stakeholders.

“We are all serving the same patient and ensuring their lives are safe, whether in public or private hospitals,” he said.

Chief Officer for Preventive and Promotive, Janerose Tioko, highlighted the significance of collaboration with partners to strengthen healthcare services and improve their access.

“Strengthening healthcare services requires addressing challenges together to enhance service delivery,” she said.

The Deputy Director of Resource Mobilization, Michael Aupe, stated that the county was in the process of developing a development partnership policy that would coordinate all partners to reduce duplication and optimize resources.

Co-Operative Bank Lodwar Branch Manager, Humphrey Chemiat, said that the bank was already supporting the county education sector through bursaries.

“We aim to expand our involvement in healthcare by leveraging financing mechanisms for medical equipment such as incubators, dialysis machines, ambulances, X-rays, and CT scans to enhance service delivery across the county,” he said.

Sammy Kamau, Administrator at Namo Hospital, noted previous collaborations with the county, including blood donation drives, medical supplies donations, ambulance support, and participation in medical camps.

“This forum presents an opportunity to streamline referral structures to enhance its efficiency and jointly invest in capacity building continuing medical education programs and engaging specialists,” he said.

In his closing remarks, the CECM acknowledged the numerous priorities in the health sector but emphasized that strengthening collaboration and partnership was the way forward.

“Let’s start by collaborating to mark World TB Day on March 24th, as Turkana is a high TB burden county,” he said.

He also urged stakeholders to support the SHA registration initiative.

Other private sector representatives in attendance included officials from Kenya Commercial Bank, Equity Bank, Elimu Sacco, Platinum Credit, Novas Specialist Hospital, Tumaini Medical Clinic, Equity Afia Medical Centre, Blue Ivory Healthcare, Lodwar Hills Hosptial, Kenya Medical Training College, Turkana Institute of Health and Psychological Studies, Turkana University College, Lodwar Islamic Centre, Turkana Tours and Guides, The Cradle Hotel Lodwar, Cherines Homes and The Great Turkreef.