Governor Alex Tolgos presided over the official launch of Metkei Community Dispensary courtesy of partnership between the County government of Elgeyo Marakwet AMPATH-Plus and Moi University.
The ambitious initiative also graced by the University Vice Chancellor Prof. Isaac Kosgey and AMPATH Chief of Party Prof. Sylvester Kimaiyo will help the Metkei community to effectively address the population needs towards achievingUniversal Health Coverage.
The Governor praised the approach, saying it would greatly reduce the burden for curative health services because of enhancement of preventive Services.
The Governor noted that over the past 5 years, Metkei community has benefited from annual medical camps, supported by the county government and its partners, mainly Moi University/MTRH/AMPATH, each attracting an average of 600 patients seeking services for different ailments.
Tolgos said the program rather than focusing on episodic care during scheduled medical camps as done before, will also have an ongoing system of health education, screening and care through the use of Community Health Volunteers CHVs who will do regular visits to educate, screen and refer community members who require medical attention to the community dispensary that the program will also establish.
The program will train and equip CHVs with a BP machine, Glucometer, weighing scales among other equipment to enable them to screen adults within households for hypertensionand also monitor the BP control among known hypertensives.
They will also be able to check the nutritional status of children and adults.
The program will further establish a community health clinic in collaboration with the county health department to manage common ailments within the community, mainly referrals from the community health volunteers.
Under this partnership, AMPATH through support from reach52 aims to train 800 CHVs who will be equipped with the reach52 eHealth Android application.
The Vice Chancellor appreciated the County government of Elgeyo Marakwet for its proactiveness in collaboration initiatives with development partners towards promotion of sustainable healthcare services of it’s population.
“Moi university will always be here for sometime to support some of this health partnerships,” said the VC.
The VC noted that Elgeyo Marakwet was a potential destination for research in alternative medicine adding that it was also one of the counties where life expectancy is high.
Other leaders present included Moi University Associate Professor Joy Balidawa, Prof. Tenge kuremo, Dr Jeremiah Laktabai among other key officials.
Area local leaders Present included area MCA Philip Kipruto, County Health and Technical Education CECs Anita Kimwatan and Edwin Kisang respectively, Chief Officer Mary Kipchumba, Health Services Director Dr Patrick Kosgey amongst other health officials.
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