The Mandera County Government has launched a state-of-the-art dialysis centre at the Mandera County Teaching and Referral Hospital, marking a significant milestone in enhancing healthcare access and affordability in the region.
The new facility is set to transform medical care for residents by providing advanced treatment locally, reducing the need for costly referrals to Nairobi.
Governor Mohamed Khalif, who officiated the launch, emphasized the centre’s potential to alleviate the financial burden on patients.
“There are several cases of referrals to Nairobi from Mandera County, especially for advanced imaging like MRI. When we did some costing, one patient, without any relative accompanying, incurred around 100,000 shillings,” Khalif stated.
“These services are going to reduce the cost of healthcare in this county.”
The dialysis centre is a strategic step toward addressing long-standing healthcare challenges in Mandera, a region that has often faced scrutiny for systemic issues.
Governor Khalif highlighted one such concern, noting, “Mandera County has been hitting headlines for all the wrong reasons because when they (private investors) are registering private facilities, they do not refer to the Department of Public Health because it is done in Nairobi.”
The new facility underscores the county’s commitment to improving local healthcare infrastructure and oversight, ensuring residents have access to quality medical services closer to home.
Equipped with modern technology, the dialysis centre is expected to serve patients with kidney-related conditions, reducing the need for long, expensive trips to urban centres.
The initiative aligns with Mandera County’s broader goal of strengthening its healthcare system and addressing disparities in access to specialized care.
By bringing critical services to Mandera, the county government aims to enhance the quality of life for its people and set a precedent for other underserved regions in Kenya.