Lodwar – April 15, 2026 (Public Communication and Media Relations)
A delegation of international philanthropists has visited Turkana County to assess ongoing health and humanitarian programmes, in a move aimed at strengthening support for emergency services in the region.
The visit, hosted by the Department of Health and Sanitation Services in partnership with Save the Children Kenya, is part of the Australian Regional Leadership Initiative (ARLI), funded by the Judith Neilson Foundation.
The two-day tour sought to give donors first-hand experience of humanitarian interventions and their impact, while identifying opportunities for further investment in the county’s health sector.
During the visit, the delegation toured the Emergency Dispatch Centre, and the Accident and Emergency Department and Paediatric Stabilisation Unit at Lodwar County Referral Hospital (LCRH), where they were briefed on emergency department capacity and existing gaps, as well as EMS dispatch and pre-hospital system. The team also inspected the ambulances positioned outside dispatch center.
The LCRH CEO, Nancy Kinyonge said such engagements are key to informing existing gaps and potential donor support.
“Visits like these help partners understand the realities on the ground and identify opportunities to strengthen emergency medical services, and expand access to care across the county,” she said.
Mat Tinkler, Chief Executive Officer, Save the Children Australia, said the delegation was keen on understanding the scale of health challenges and opportunities for collaboration in Turkana.
“We have seen the extent of the disease burden and the long distances patients travel to access emergency services. This visit will help shape interventions aimed at improving emergency care, and overall health outcomes,” he added.
Deputy Director of Medical Services, Dr. Bonaventure Ameyo, highlighted key challenges facing the sector, including vast distances to health facilities, limited transport and staffing shortages, as well as a high patient load.
The delegation, accompanied by Emergency Medicine Kenya Foundation (EMKF) CEO, Dr. Benjamin Wachira, was also taken through emergency response operations led by Kephas Achiro.
The team also visited Kangole Outreach, linked to Nasiger Dispensary, to assess delivery of healthcare services at the community level. The team also visited and interacted with new arrivals at the Kalobeyei reception center before procveding to the World Food Program led Elelea farm project designed to enhance agricultural production for refugee population.
