Turkana: A delegation of international philanthropists has visited Turkana County to assess ongoing health and humanitarian programmes, in a move aimed at strengthening support for emergency health services in the region.
According to Kenya News Agency, the visit was hosted by the Department of Health and Sanitation Services in partnership with Save the Children Kenya. It is part of the Australian Regional Leadership Initiative (ARLI), funded by the Judith Neilson Foundation. The two-day tour sought to give donors first-hand experience of humanitarian interventions and their impact, while identifying opportunities for further investment in the county’s health sector.
During the visit, the delegation toured the Emergency Dispatch Centre, the Accident and Emergency Department, and the Paediatric Stabilisation Unit at Lodwar County Referral Hospital (LCRH), where they were briefed on emergency department capacity and existing gaps, as well as EMS dispatch and pre-hospital system. The team also inspected the ambulances positioned outside the dispatch center.
The LCRH CEO, Nancy Kinyonge, emphasized the importance of such engagements for identifying existing gaps and potential donor support. ‘Visits like these help partners understand the realities on the ground and identify opportunities to strengthen emergency medical services, and expand access to care across the county,’ she said.
Mat Tinkler, Chief Executive Officer of Save the Children Australia, noted the delegation’s interest in understanding the health challenges and collaboration opportunities in Turkana. ‘We have seen the extent of the disease burden and the long distances patients travel to access emergency services. This visit will help shape interventions aimed at improving emergency care, and overall health outcomes,’ he added.
Deputy Director of Medical Services, Dr. Bonaventure Ameyo, outlined key challenges facing the sector, including vast distances to health facilities, limited transport, staffing shortages, and a high patient load.
The delegation, accompanied by Emergency Medicine Kenya Foundation (EMKF) CEO, Dr. Benjamin Wachira, also observed emergency response operations led by Kephas Achiro. The team visited Kangole Outreach, linked to Nasiger Dispensary, to assess healthcare delivery at the community level, and interacted with new arrivals at the Kalobeyei reception center before visiting the World Food Program-led Elelea farm project aimed at enhancing agricultural production for the refugee population.
