Turkana County Deputy Governor Dr John Erus has officially closed the Lodwar County Referral Hospital (LCRH) and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) free medical camps with assurance that the collaboration between the hospitals will continue to strengthen.

The three-day camp, held at LCRH from August 22 to 25, saw over 1000 consultations, some leading to treatment and 50 surgeries conducted.

Speaking during the event, Dr Erus said that the current government leadership is deliberate and purposeful in ensuring all residents get high-quality healthcare services at LCRH.

‘The County Government will work on the areas identified by the MTRH team to ensure that the LCRH infrastructure and services will in future be comparable to a level six hospital,’ he said.

The deputy governor also revealed that the county was working on an Appropriation Fund Bill for specialised training and rare skill development, from which the medical field will also benefit.

Further, he added that the county would prioritise the enrollment of the residents into National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF), who are currently in long-term care at MTRH, to minimise the cost.

The County Chief Officer for Medical Services, Dr Gilchrist Lokoel, said the camp was a success as it brought healthcare to the people who deserved it.

He noted it had alleviated pain and suffering in accordance with his vision of what healthcare should always strive to achieve.

‘The power of collaboration between the two hospitals has seen the delivery of healthcare that has benefited Turkana residents, saving costs for those who would have travelled 400 kms to MTRH, and the skills and knowledge transfer that our medical staff have gained,’ said Dr Lokoel.

Dr Philip Kirwa, the Senior Director Clinical Services at MTRH and the camp’s team leader, urged the county leadership to sponsor medical staff of any cadre to the teaching hospital for specialised mentorship programmes.

‘The MTRH management will be considering referring two surgeons for a week periodically to assist in any backlog surgeries at Lodwar County Referral Hospital,’ Dr Kirwa said.

As the team leads for the LCRH, Dr Jairus Maling (physician) and Rebecca Ekadeli (matron) appreciated the commitment of the MTRH team and welcomed many such collaborations that would see more specialised services at the hospital.

In his closing remarks, the Deputy Governor lauded both teams for their commitment and dedication to ensuring that the free camp was a big success.

Source: Kenya News Agency