UASIN GISHU COUNTY IS MORE THAN READY TO FULLY EMBRACE UNIVERSAL HEALTH COVERAGE.

 

UASIN GISHU MAKES THE CLARION CALL FOR REGULAR MEDICAL CHECKUP THIS FISCAL YEAR.

The County has in this financial year made health the top priority, which is also a national development framework envisaged in the Big 4 Agenda. The allocation of County expenditure to the health sector is about Ksh 2.2 billion which is the largest and this is a wholesome step to achieving what can be termed as second decade of the new millennium achievements.

Health having been given the largest share was due to an irresistible number of challenges in the County. Firstly and most importantly, Uasin Gishu is strategically located where citizens from all
walks of life access health there and some come all the way from Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda and
South Sudan. The County is like a set of invigoration even within Kenyan and especially in the
Western, Nyanza and Northern Rift Kenya. 

The ever increasing health demand from the population as the major attribute has made the County come with such a great priority in place. To fully realize this, the overall County health policy from the findings is that to downplay this an earlier diagnosis and regular medical checkup would be a long term solution. The natural problem with the County is that it’s a highland with a cool and wet climate most of the year which brings about cold-related illnesses such as pneumonia, malaria as well as other respiratory infections.

The County through the department of health has seen that an earlier medical checkup is a
breakthrough to having healthy residents and consequently have an optimum production through
efforts that aim at outputs that will make the County grow. The great importance of medical checkups is firstly attached to the individual expenditure in terms of the funds one may incur to treating or curing a certain disease. In addition, a checkup makes one aware of a certain ailment and so costs are minimised.

A medical checkup is important to the medical practitioners to discover the disease at the lowest
proportions and hence give the same the attention it may require. Screening is a process that will
soon be fully enhanced in the County when construction of a reference laboratory is done. Ziwa
and Huruma have been upgraded in order to cater for such services and make the whole process
easy. The County also sets up medical camps regularly and are used in the same process.

A medical checkup gives the doctors and other medical practitioners an ample time to deal with
diseases related to depression when they are still at the early stages. For instance, weight loss can
be detected through a proper screening medical process which at times may be difficult for one
to notice. Others diseases such as hypertension, high blood pressure and mental disorders such as
dementia are expensive to treat at latter stages.

Medical checkups make treating of diseases related to blood easily treatable. High Blood
Pressure, anemia, HIV/AIDs and cancer which its growth of the abnormal cells is extremely
dangerous need an early diagnosis. Construction of a theatre in both Turbo and Burnt Forest subcounty hospitals will enable quick acquisition of this and provide the best medical control
measures.

An early checkup makes one appraised of their health situation. Once screening is done and there
is an outcome that is positive, it is easier to handle the same. Appropriate medical action is taken
and advice may also be given to the patient in that particular case. For instance if one has a
challenge in vision, a screening of ophthalmic is necessary. This has been enabled after a unit
providing these services was constructed in Huruma which is now a County referral hospital.

The specific measures put in place by the County are geared towards making checkup easier and
accessible to all. As said earlier, hospitals have been upgraded and well equipped. Medical
infrastructure is generally a major focus by the County. Emergency service have also been
strengthened through provision of all necessities including ambulances. Immunization is also
provided for in order to combat diseases such as polio.

A thorough and regular medical checkup is a major component to a healthy County. Some of the
killer diseases that have been stated in the Kenya Health Policy (2014-2030) to be a leading
cause of death can actually be controlled if not cured. Circumstances under which some people
die is actually at the expense of late diagnosis when the disease is rampant in most body parts.
An early checkup which is a County's push will make the whole process easy to all from the
living style to the expenses that may incur.


About the author.
Kilonzo J. Mutie is an attaché at the County government of Uasin Gishu at the department of devolution, administration and public service management (communications and public relations). He also serves as the Secretary General of Maseno University Political Students' Association (MUPOSSA).

For inquiries, email:
kilonzomutie41@yahoo.com

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