County Government of Laikipia

Next time you visit a health facility in Laikipia seeking a service, you'll be a patient of Laikipia Health Service (LHS).

On Wednesday, the County Executive Committee chaired by Governor Ndiritu Muriithi approved the transformation of the county health department to Laikipia Health Service to embrace and reflect one spirit, vision, and mission.

This is a radical change unseen anywhere in the country and which is likely to rattle cartels that hold the national health sector hostage.

The model is founded on uniformity of service delivery across all the county's 84 facilities to reflect one name, one service, one process, one cost center, one spirit, and one brand.

We want to reflect to our customers who seek our services that a reflection of one service, that we are one as a unit; that the quality of our service is the same everywhere. Chief Officer Dr. Donald Mogoi said.

For efficiency and effectiveness, LHS will operate through nine clusters for synergy in human resource management and optimization, investments on diagnostic, essential drugs, disease management, referrals.

Refurbishment

It will expand services through leasing of essential equipment as follows: one MRI for LHS Nanyuki, two CT scans for LHS Nanyuki and LHS Nyahururu, Theatre Equipment for LHS Rumuruti, LHS Ndindika, LHS Lamuria, LHS Doldol, X-ray for LHS Rumuruti, Ndindika and Kimanjo, ultrasounds for LHS Rumuruti, Kimanjo, Ndindika, Lamuria and Doldol, Laboratory equipment for LHS Nanyuki, LHS Nyahururu, LHS East Laikipia, LHS Kalalu, LHS Ol moran, LHS Ngarua, LHS Oljabet.

All services will be carried out through an integrated web-based operations system that will help in intra and inter outlet communications, data sharing and analytics for decision making. All the 84 LHS outlets will within one year be accredited to NHIF among other health insurers. LHS outlets will share essential health workers to achieve efficiency and effectiveness in service delivery and supervision.

Refurbishment, renovation, and branding of all the 84 outlets have started. Twenty-two (22) LHS outlets will be operational on a 24-hour basis, 7 days a week and 365 days a year, while 62 outlets will be operational on an 8-hour basis, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year.

All Level 2 outlets will serve as refill centers for specialized health care services. Thet will stock drugs for the management of Diabetes, Hypertension, and arthritis.

Medical officers from level 4, Clinical Officers from Level 3 LHS outlets will be visiting the Level 2 LHS outlets on a monthly basis for patient monitoring. Cluster lead outlets will provide the requisite human resources for these reverse referrals.

Specialization

LHS Nanyuki and Nyahururu will provide specialists to level 4 outlets on a monthly basis for reviews of clients requiring specialist clinics and reviews. Elective surgical, obstetric and gynecological and other specialized procedures will be carried through this system in both LHS Level 4 and 5 outlets.

The western block of facilities generally shows a rising trend of non-communicable diseases (Hypertension, Diabetes, Arthritis). All LHS outlets in the region will invest more in diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of clients presenting with such conditions.

Laikipia East also shows similar trends. LHS Nanyuki and Nyahururu will be the final referral outlets for complicated and severe clients. Specialization will be key in management.

LHS Nanyuki will have the County Critical Care center, with fully equipped staffed ICU capability. Laikipia North has more communicable conditions. investments will focus on preventive and promotive programs across LHS outlets, diagnostic capability, and management. LHS Kimanjo will be the radiological center for the region.