Doctors from Canada, Japan and Singapore under the Kibos International Health Foundation wound up their tour of Kenya over the weekend with a resolve to work with Kisii and Trans Nzoia Counties on improved healthcare service delivery.
The doctors were led by Ambrose Kibos, CEO of the foundation and cardiac surgeons Yuki Ichihara (Japan) and Teresa Kieser (Canada).
The doctors began their tour of Kisii County where they held talks with the management of Kisii University led by Vice Chancellor Nathan Ogechi on possible ways of collaboration in cardiovascular diseases.
The medics later engaged in humanitarian mission work at the Nyanchwa Mission Hospital before making an extensive tour of Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital.
Kibos Foundation also donated a portable high-resolution Echocardiogram machine to Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital that will relieve patients suffering from heart conditions.
Kibos said the focus of the foundation was to increase primary care outreach to rural Africa.
He said that this can be achieved through improved healthcare services with a well-trained and interconnected cardiovascular workforce through the provision of a central cardiovascular simulation, training and education Centre.
Kisii Governor Simba Arati said the team led by the Kibos International Health Foundation has rich experience in the treatment and management of cardiovascular and cancer diseases.
"Our deliberations resulted in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Kisii County through KTRH, the Kisii University and Kibos which will culminate into the establishment of a cardiovascular center at the hospital for training, teaching, treatment and research," said Arati.
He said that he had started equipping and refurbishing public healthcare facilities in the county as he sought to have better healthcare services for residents.
The Governor said a good healthcare system is one of the most important things that his administration can bequeath to the people of Kisii.
Kieser noted that heart diseases are a major cause of many deaths among all categories of people globally.
She said during her interaction with patients at the Nyanchwa Mission Hospital, in the course of our humanitarian medical work, she observed that hospitals do not have basic medical equipment to prevent, diagnose, monitor, and treat diseases.
"The reality is that medical equipment plays a significant role in improving the health system and in ensuring proper implementation of universal health coverage in any country," said Prof Kaiser.
At the same time, Trans-Nzoia Governor George Natembeya hosted the medical experts and pledged a partnership to promote healthcare services for cardiovascular diseases.
The Governor who spoke in Kitale assured the experts of his commitment to partnering with them to improve healthcare services.
He noted the urgent need for infrastructural development of state-of-the-art cardiovascular facilities, training, and capacity building for doctors to improve their services and awareness campaigns on the prevention of cardiovascular disease in the region calling for support.
“It is a matter of great concern that many patients in Trans Nzoia and its environs suffering from cardiovascular and cancer-related ailments have been seeking for specialized medical attention in India which is expensive and inconvenient,” he said.
He said it could be better to have one or two doctors from India and other countries with experience visiting to do surgeries and even training staff.
The governor promised to work with various stakeholders to ensure that the health sector in his county is improved during his tenure.
Health Taskforce Chairman Ferdinand Nang’ole lauded Kibos International Health Foundation for its commitment to achieving the health needs of Trans Nzoia residents.
“The MoU that was done a couple of years ago didn’t avail much and this calls for re-looking into the deal afresh with particular amendments derived from our health task force,” he said.
He lauded Governor Natembeya for showing commitment since taking over to ensuring actualisation of better healthcare for residents.
The visiting doctors later engaged doctors, clinicians, and other medical personnel in day sensitization training on oncology and different types of cancer through the latest technology at the Kijana Wamalwa Memorial Centre, formerly Kitale Referral Hospital.