County HQ, February 19, 2025 (Public Communications and Media Relations)
The County Government of Turkana hosted Safaricom PLC and International Rescue Committee (IRC) in Lodwar on Wednesday, and unanimously agreed to align their priorities to effectively use technology to improve digitization of the health systems and utilization of internet in health facilities across Turkana County.
The two organizations are looking to explore opportunities on how to incorporate smart water systems in boreholes, improve data collection, revenue collection and analytics to support proactive decisions and increase the efficiency of water utilities in Turkana South.
This follows a field visit by the duo in company of county officials to Ikore borehole as a Water and Sanitation (WASH) Project and Katilu Sub-county Hospital. The organizations have jointly supported the programmes and many more across the County.
The visit in Turkana South was aimed at exploring the ability to use Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping to identify areas with high malnutrition rates and through Community Health Promoters (CHPs), ensure clients receive treatment.
Of significance, was to explore the use of Closed User Group (CUG) by key referral focal points, bulk Short Messaging Service (SMS) and Toll-free lines by Community Health Promoters (CHPs) to enhance emergency referral services, sharing educational messages, and informing clients in remote or hard to reach areas in pastoral community on service offering points.
The acting County Secretary, Joseph Nyanga lauded the interventions of Safaricom, IRC and other partners/ It was pleasure, he said in bringing onboard Safaricom Plc, in tapping its extensive expertise in matters technology. However, CS suggested if sampling of projects visited would have been across all the sub-counties.
He added, “I urge the two organizations to sample their projects from all the sub-counties, but more specifically from Turkana West, as a result of its ability to sustain many pastoralists, who might be beneficiary of their technology-led programming in WASH and Health interventions during this dry spell of the year.”
Recognizing the milestones achieved in “One Health Strategy”, the Chief Officer for Health and Sanitation, Janerose Tioko, asked Safaricom to come in handy to support the joint approach, owing to the continued dwindling in global funding a thorny issue stopping foreign aid to needy countries in Africa.
She won Safaricom’s heart of support after the organization assured them of the availability during outreach visits in issuing people with sim cards when registering for services.
“The involvement of Safaricom in One Health Strategy and other initiatives, would boost the county’s registration of Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) coverage of Universal Health Coverage where Turkana has been leading from the bottom,” CCO remarked.
The Strategy has of recent past, recorded success story in administering livestock treatment, human health and social services closer to the far-flung pastoralist communities along the shared borders.
Similarly, the county officials who spoke during the meeting, all asked Safaricom Plc to rally its support to water and health sectors-critical aspects in transforming people’s lives.
Joshua Ruto, the Team Lead for IRC underscored the significance of using technology to track projects in the field saying, “the use of technology to track projects and building on other information systems like GIS would produce innovative solutions in health sector.”
For the same reason, Edwin Juma, in-charge of Safaricom Plc in Turkana and West Pokot Counties, said the Safaricom’s strategic partnership with IRC and Turkana County should be seen as a major boost with the integration of technology in digitizing most of the programming interventions.
Moving forward, he added, there would be more sessions for co-creation with the county government officials.
County officials who spoke during the meeting were, James Lobokan (Director, Policy Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Health), Nancy Nyanga (Deputy Director Partnerships, Health), Michael Aupe (Deputy Director, Resource Mobilization and Partnerships) and Hebrews idoka (Deputy Director, Social Protection).
Majda Ganibegovia, John Kamau, Goerginia Macharia all from IRC, while Idah Gacheri, and Wambuci Mjunji from Safaricom PLC were present.
