Lokichar – 10th July 2024 (Public Communication and Media Relations)

The County Department of Health and Sanitation concludes its end-of-year status check in sampled health facilities, to ascertain commodity stock levels, projects, and human resources for health under supportive supervision.

Supportive supervision is a vital governance and leadership initiative that provides real-time feedback, capturing good practices and instituting informed corrective measures where necessary.

“This follows a comprehensive assessment conducted in March 2024, and measures were taken to replenish stocks. It is now expected stock levels would have been fully restored within two weeks to one month,” said Dr Gilchrist Lokoel, the Chief Officer for Medical Services.

Speaking at Lokichar Sub-county Hospital, he also highlighted that dental services would soon be available at the facility as the dentist chair had already been delivered. Other similar chairs had been delivered to Lopiding and Lokituang Sub-county hospitals.

The Chief Officer for Preventive and Promotive Health Services, Cathra Abdi, highlighted the significant impact of Community Health Promoters (CHPs) in increasing positive health behaviors especially those linked to sub-county hospitals.

“The CHPs are mobilizing expectant mothers, as far as from eight kilometers away, and accompanying them for maternal and child health services such as comprehensive antenatal care profiling,” Chief Abdi said.

She also confirmed that most of the vaccines were available after the end of the country-wide shortage.

In terms of projects, the senior management team would conduct collective advocacy to tap into the ward development fund to include health projects and program funding.

Although staffing levels needed enhancing and absenteeism tackled further, the department plans to conduct a staff rationalisation based on the workload of facilities.