Makueni County Referral Hospital has received advanced surgical and diagnostic equipment through the National Equipment Service Programme (NESP) which is a collaboration with county governments in the country.
Among the machines received include a Modern Diathermy monopolar that uses high-frequency electric currents to cut, coagulate or destroy tissue during surgery, hence reducing blood loss, infusion pumps, operating lights and tables, and anesthesia machine.
Other equipment are patient monitors, for theatre and transit use, and traction bed designed for orthopedic procedures.
The revelations were made by Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr, when he commissioned the equipment at the Makueni county Referral Hospital saying services at the health facility will be improved immensely.
Consequently, he disclosed that the acquisition of the equipment has expanded the operating theatres from 2 to 4 at the Makueni County Referral hospital hence reduced the period of patients waiting for surgery.
“In terms of quality of machines, we have top notch machines that will be operated by a team of experts. These machines will improve quality care for patients in Makueni. We have well trained doctors who are well trained to offer services,” said Mutula while commissioning the equipment on Wednesday at the hospital.
“Remember when we had an outreach here last year, some patients had to wait for one week to get surgery services at the health facility. Now with the new equipment, we have expanded the theatres to 4 from 2,” the governor observed.
During the commissioning, he lauded the programme saying the counties had a challenge of purchasing such equipment as they have inadequate resources.
“I can say, this is a good programme and counties have to take advantage of it because the biggest headache is to procure these machines, the resources we have are inadequate to procure the machines,” he reiterated.
The governor further said that the county will not refer any case outside the county as they are able to handle medical cases courtesy of the machines they have received at the health facility.
Also, Mutula said currently the equipment have been stationed at the county referral hospital saying they will be distributed to the level 4 hospitals and other facilities in due time.
“Now Makueni is truly a referral centre and a hospital where we can handle any medical condition. We will only make sure we have adequate power, enabled energy, have a blood centre and trained experts and technology. We need not refer any patient from Makueni to any health facility in the country,” Mutula added.
Besides saying the facility has a digital X-ray system that uses electronic detectors instead of film, the technology converts images into digital files within minutes hence enabling faster diagnosis noting the facility handles 70-80 X-rays patients in a day.
Also, the hospital has integrated workstation supports minimally invasive surgeries and features high-resolution 4K UHD cameras, monitors, oxygen insufflators and suction system that enhances precision, visualization and surgeon comfort.
The hospital management says that with the new equipment, it expects that it will ease congestion besides shortening the period patients have to wait.
“These upgrades will reduce referrals and allow the hospital to manage complex cases locally,” said the Consultant General Surgeon and Endoscopist Dr. Alex Ombati during the commissioning of the equipment at the health facility on Wednesday.
Present at the function included the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) Joyce Mutua, Chief Officer Dr. Harvey Mulei Mbithi among other county government officials.
By Patrick Nyakundi
