Lwala Community Hospital in North Kamagambo, Rongo Sub-county, has received funding from the United States-based TramutoPorter Foundation to strengthen continuous professional development for healthcare workers, a move expected to improve the quality of healthcare services in Migori County and across the country.
The support, provided through the Foundation’s Medical Education Fund, will finance continuing professional education, mentorship programmes and a training-of-trainers initiative aimed at equipping healthcare professionals with up-to-date clinical knowledge and practical skills while enabling them to mentor other practitioners.
The programme seeks to enhance the competence of healthcare workers as the sector adapts to rapidly evolving medical technologies, emerging diseases, antimicrobial resistance, electronic medical records, telemedicine and updated clinical guidelines.
In a press statement released by the hospital, Lwala Community Hospital Medical Officer-in-Charge Dr Chadwink Omondi said strengthening Kenya’s healthcare system begins with investing in the professionals who deliver frontline medical services.
“I have always believed that people drive systems, and when we invest in people, we strengthen healthcare,” said Dr Omondi.
He noted that many healthcare professionals working in rural Kenya face significant barriers to continuous learning due to limited financial resources, travel costs and demanding workloads, making access to professional development opportunities difficult.
According to Dr Omondi, Lwala Community Hospital has integrated continuous learning into its daily operations by creating an environment where students, young clinicians and experienced healthcare professionals acquire new knowledge while delivering patient care.
He said the approach has transformed the hospital into a recognised Centre of Excellence where healthcare workers not only strengthen their clinical competencies but also mentor colleagues, improve standards of practice and enhance patient outcomes.
In 2025 alone, the hospital supported the training of more than 130 students and healthcare professionals drawn from different health disciplines.
Earlier this year, the Clinical Officers Council accredited Lwala Community Hospital as an official clinical training site for Kenya’s clinical officers, further reinforcing its role in developing the country’s health workforce.
Lwala Community Hospital Clinician In-Charge Karen Boyi said the institution’s mentorship programme focuses not only on clinical excellence but also on nurturing compassionate healthcare professionals who uphold patients’ dignity and provide respectful care.
“When our hospital staff train and mentor other health workers, we carry not only our clinical skills but our commitment to treating patients with dignity. This is what we are known for,” she said.
Boyi added that the hospital believes quality healthcare depends on professionals who combine technical competence with teamwork, compassion, integrity and respect for patients.
TramutoPorter Foundation Co-founder Donato Tramuto said the investment demonstrates the organisation’s commitment to strengthening healthcare systems through education, leadership development and compassionate care.
“Compassion is not a soft ideal. It is a force that changes lives, strengthens communities and shapes a more just world,” said Tramuto.
According to the Foundation, the programme’s long-term sustainability will be achieved through a training-of-trainers model in which healthcare workers who receive specialised training will mentor colleagues and future practitioners, creating a multiplier effect that extends beyond a single health facility.
The initiative is expected to benefit healthcare workers at Lwala Community Hospital as well as professionals from Migori County and other parts of Kenya, contributing to a stronger and more resilient national healthcare workforce.
The funding comes at a time when county governments continue investing in hospitals, maternity units, ambulances, medical equipment and diagnostic services to improve access to healthcare. Health experts, however, note that the effectiveness of such investments depends largely on the knowledge, skills and competence of the professionals delivering care.
Professional regulatory bodies, including the Clinical Officers Council and the Nursing Council of Kenya, require practitioners to continually update their knowledge and skills to maintain professional competence, making continuous professional development an essential pillar of quality healthcare delivery.
The latest investment positions Lwala Community Hospital among the country’s leading institutions championing healthcare workforce development by demonstrating that strong health systems are built not only through modern infrastructure and equipment but also through sustained investment in the people who provide healthcare services.
By Polycarp Ochieng/Makokha Khaoya
