The Ministry of Health, through its Division of Intervention for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), in partnership with Medtronic LABS and with support from the World Diabetes Foundation (WDF), has distributed 33 digital tablets to health facilities across West Pokot County.
The initiative is part of a broader push for digital healthcare, specifically aimed at improving data management for diabetes and hypertension care.
Speaking to KNA at the Ministry of Health offices in Kapenguria town, the Programme Lead at Medtronic LABS, Vincent Amusavi, stated the digital tools would help equip healthcare workers with the capacity to capture and manage patient data efficiently, supporting more informed decision-making at both the facility and county levels.
Amusavi said the tablets would be used to document and track cases of diabetes and hypertension, which are growing health concerns in the region.
He disclosed that Medtronic LABS is currently supporting 35 counties across Kenya in the digitization of NCD interventions.
He emphasized that the programme, funded by the World Diabetes Foundation and implemented in collaboration with a consortium of six partners, including the Ministry of Health, is committed to strengthening digital health systems for better patient outcomes.
“We visited West Pokot to distribute these tablets to support the digital capture of patients related to diabetes and hypertension. This data will be crucial for decision-making at the county level. We believe that with this partnership and support from county NCD coordinators, we will achieve great results,” said Amusavi. In his remarks, the West Pokot County NCD Coordinator John Lotodo confirmed receipt of 33 tablets and noted that the devices would be distributed to nine health facilities in Kipkomo and West Pokot sub-counties.
Lotodo said the aim is to strengthen data management systems, which would ultimately inform healthcare planning and resource allocation for diabetes and hypertension services.
“This data will support the County Ministry of Health in planning services such as the provision of commodities and the establishment of additional support facilities. At the Kapenguria County Referral Hospital, we currently manage over 60 patients with Type 1 diabetes and more than 300 with Type 2 diabetes, seen weekly at the outpatient main diabetes clinic. The number of patients across the county continues to rise,” said Lotodo.
The digital health initiative marks a significant step forward in tackling non-communicable diseases in West Pokot and across Kenya, using data-driven strategies to inform policy and improve patient care.
By Anthony Melly
