Victor Elvis Mugambi
Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. of Makueni County has taken significant steps to strengthen healthcare access within the region. On Monday, he officially flagged off 385 bicycles designated for Community Health Promoters (CHPs) across several wards including Thange, Ivingoni-Nzambani, Kikumbulyu South, and Kikumbulyu North. This move is part of a broader effort to enhance mobility for health workers and improve the delivery of healthcare services in hard-to-reach areas.
Boosting Healthcare Delivery and Emergency Response
The bicycles are expected to empower CHPs, who are often the first point of contact within communities, especially traversing difficult terrains to reach households. Governor Mutula emphasized that the bicycles would enable health workers to cover more households, respond faster to health emergencies, and elevate the quality of healthcare at the community level. During the event at the Mother and Child Hospital, he also announced the launch of free ambulance services for patients referred by clinicians or requiring urgent medical attention.
Since July 1st, the county has seen 265 patients benefit from these ambulance services. To further improve emergency medical response, the county has partnered with the Emergency Medical Kenya Foundation to implement the Ambulensi program, which involves installing an Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) system. This technology will facilitate quick dispatch of ambulances by enabling rapid location of callers requesting emergency services, thus reducing response times and operational costs.
The county currently operates ten ambulances, with two undergoing repairs, alongside an additional ambulance donated by St. John Ambulance. Plans are underway to procure two more units within the current financial year. This initiative demonstrates the county's commitment to improving healthcare infrastructure and responsiveness for its residents.
Attending the event alongside Governor Mutula were several local Members of County Assembly (MCAs) and the County Assembly Clerk, highlighting the collective effort to prioritize public health and emergency services in Makueni County.
