The County Government of Embu has launched a health outreach programme designed to take specialist medical care to residents in rural sub-counties.
Through the initiative dubbed “Madaktari Mashinani” (Doctors in the grassroots), the Department of Health will be assembling a team of specialist doctors to offer a wide array of services, including specialised consultations, comprehensive screening and rehabilitative care.
Speaking during the first outreach event held at Kategi Health Center in Mwea Sub-county on Saturday, County Public Health Chief Officer Henry Nthiga said the programme was a strategic mover to decentralise healthcare by shifting specialist services from Embu Level Five Hospital and Level Fours to rural communities.
“Our objective is to ensure residents can access specialised care and treatment at the local primary care facilities to reduce the burden of long-distance travel to major facilities such as our Level Five Hospital,” he said.
He noted that many patients in rural areas have historically been forced to forego their referral appointments to major facilities over high cost and physical strain.
“We have seen cases of patients referred for specialised treatment failing to honour their referrals as a result of cost and distance factors that could occasion deterioration of conditions or lead to irreversible damage,” he said.
Nthiga said the initiative has come in to fill that gap where patients can be reviewed and booked at their nearest health facility.
Area Medical Officer of Health (MOH) Terry Matheka said the initiative was also an eye-opener to them on the huge population of patients at the grassroots suffering in silence because they cannot reach major hospitals.
“The sheer number of patients who have attended this outreach camp indicates a hidden burden of diseases from people at the grassroots unable to access specialised care at our major facilities,” she said.
She also expressed concern over the growing cases of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) such as hypertension, diabetes and various forms of cancers.
Ms Matheka appealed to residents to go for regular check-ups for these ailments for early detection and intervention before they cause irreversible damage or even death.
Patients expressed gratitude over the initiative of bringing specialised services close to them, terming it a lifeline.
Miriam Nyaguthii whose baby was dragonized with Down Syndrome said for the first time she was able to access a pediatric expert which could have required an expensive trip to secure.
“Though I was given a referral to Kenyatta National Hospital, I am glad I know what has been ailing my child and where to get assistance,” she said.
by Samuel Waititu
