Bungoma Health Forum

https://youtu.be/jnai_-f-zlM?si=BCbqrLKfn5AT9F_s

Siku ya watoto Njiti Bungoma bado ina idadi kubwa ya watoto njiti.‎2025 ilisajili asilimia 26 ikilinganishwa na 22 ya kitaifa.Njiti huzaliwa kabla ya miezi tisa. Th...

Partners Donate State-of-the-Art Hearing Screening Equipment to Bungoma County Referral Hospital

The Global Foundation for Children with Hearing Loss (GFCHL) and the Children’s Hearing Loss Organization (CHISHLO) today donated advanced hearing screening equipment to Bungoma County Referral Hospital, marking a major milestone in improving early identification and intervention for children with hearing loss in the region.

The new Automated Auditory Brainstem Response (AABR) equipment will enable health professionals at the hospital to conduct efficient, accurate, and early screening of newborns and young children for hearing challenges—ensuring timely diagnosis and support for affected families.

Speaking during the handover event, representatives from GFCHL and CHISHLO Paige Stringer emphasized the importance of early hearing screening in enhancing children’s communication, education, and social development outcomes.

“Early identification is the first step in ensuring that every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential,” said Stringer from GFCHL. “We are proud to partner with Bungoma County in making this life-changing service available.”

GFCHL and CHISHLO also signed a partnership agreement with Bungoma County in Presence of Health and Sanitation CEC CPA Chrispinus Barasa and conducted by the County Attorney Oringe Waswa to implement the newborn hearing screening project.

CPA Barasa lauded the organization for identifying Bungoma County to work with and the donated equipment will make a milestone in early detection of the hearing loss among young children.

The partnership includes monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to ensure sustainability, capacity building for healthcare workers, and continued technical support.

“This collaboration demonstrates our shared commitment to building a stronger health system that prioritizes the needs of children with hearing loss,” added David Kitur from CHISHLO.

The Global Foundation for Children with Hearing Loss (GFCHL) is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring that children who are deaf or hard of hearing—particularly in low-resource settings—have access to the early identification, technology, and professional support they need to learn to listen and speak.

The Children’s Speech and Hearing Loss Organization (CHISHLO) works to raise awareness, provide training, and advocate for improved hearing health services for children. CHISHLO collaborates with local and international partners to promote early screening, intervention, and inclusive education.

This donation and partnership underscore the shared vision of GFCHL, CHISHLO, and Bungoma County to create a future where no child is left behind because of hearing loss.

Present were the CEC incharge of Sports, Culture and Youths Benedict Emachar, County director Health and Sanitation Dr. Caleb Watta, BCRH Med Sup Dr. Simon Kisaka, CHMT member Rehabilitative Services Mr. Aaron Lambisia among other Key figures.

Make Use Of Lower Health Facilities Before Seeking Services In Referral Facilities - CECM Barasa Tells Residents

Bungoma County government has called on area residents to make use of lower health facilities before seeking the same services in referral hospitals.

Addressing the press conference on the County health status, Bungoma County health and sanitation CECM CPA Chrispinus Barasa stated that majority of patients are seeking health services at Webuye County Hospital and Bungoma Referral Hospitals yet such services can be found at level 2 and 3 as well as level 4 across the County.

"Dispensaries, health centres and sub county hospitals provide services that are covered under SHA, visit them for initial check-ups and if the issues persists they can be referred, this will help reduce congestions in the referral facilities," he said.

CPA Barasa pointed out that the bed occupancy in referral facilities in the County are overstretched and strained because it serves not only patients within the county but also from the neighbouring Counties.

He called on the CHPs to mobilize the residents to register in large numbers with Social Health Authority (SHA) as at now we stand at 45%(751,757) of 1,670,570, he commended CHPs for doing good work and encouraged to continue as they are our greatest drives of quality health care.

"We recognize the challenges in delays in terms of SHA reimbursements and we are working closely with SHA office to resolve any matter that require our attentions to ensure funds flows as expected to guarantee proper health care services," he said

He was in the company of the Director health and sanitation Dr Caleb Watta and a section of County Health Management Team (CHMT) members.

COUNTY HEALTH EXECUTIVE TOURS SINOKO SUB-COUNTY HOSPITAL ON SUPPORT SUPERVISION PROGRAM

The County Health and Sanitation leadership on Thursday paid a visit to Sinoko Sub County Hospital in Webuye East Sub County on support supervision

Led by CECM CPA Chrispinus Barasa and the Chief Officer Dr.Magrina Mayama, the Director Dr. Caleb Watta and the Health Management Team visited various service delivery areas.

During the tour they discussed the challenges and the projects to be undertaken to upgrade the facility.

He encouraged health workers to unite and work hard for the benefit of the County populace.

They also discussed on the strategies being employed for the improved service delivery in the healthcare system.

Today CECM for health and Sanitation CPA Chrispinus Barasa, together with Deputy CDH Dr.Emma Nyaboke, ENT Surgeon ( Dr libutsi), partners and liaison officer Simon Mukoko and county coordinator of rehabilitative services and disability mainstreaming Aaron Lambisia
met partners Paige Stringer from Global Foundation For Children With Hearing Loss, Director Stephen Kuttur from Children Speech and Hearing loss organization and Isaac Laboso from Children Speech and Hearing loss organization.

AGENDA
1. To support CGB - health department with Automated Optical Inspection Machine For identification of hearing loss in children and Berra Machine (For diagnosis of hearing loss)

2. To assist in capacity building of HCW

3. Support affordable hearing aids

This will enable early identification of hearing loose and early treatment hence prevent hearing disabilities. They will support the department with hearing Aid devices.

On Wednesday, health and sanitation team including Sub County Hospitals in charges, health administrators, procurement officers, finance and accountants were taken through a vigorous training on finance programs.

The training which took place at Siritamu hotel and facilitated by the Mother department and Amref saw Members taken through Revenue management and procedures at health facilities, cash and bank management.

They were also taught on how to deal with accounting for expenditure, inventory management and stores procedures in health facilities, managing fixed assets within the facility, periodic financial reporting, internal audit, internal control and Risk management and finally oversight-statutory audit and the role of the county assembly.

Chief Officer Dr Magrina Mayama while closing the event urged all members to observe integrate while discharging their duties.

CDH Dr Caleb Watta called on all team members to observe professionalism at all times while serving the public.

INTEGRATED MASS DRUG ADMINISTRATION CAMPAIGN AGAINST INTESTINAL WORMS AND BILHARZIA FROM 17TH TO 21ST JULY, 2025

The National ministry of health, Bungoma County government's department of health and sanitation have partnered with AMREF Health Africa and Evidence Action in carrying out integrated mass drug administration against intestinal worms and Bilharzia.

The deworming campaign will start on 17th to 21st July, 2025.

The deworming activity targets children aged 1 year and above for Intestinal worms while deworming for Bilharzia targets children aged 5 years and above.

For bilharzia deworming, someone must take a meal and must have height measured to determine dosage.

In Bungoma County the deworming exercise for both Intestinal and bilharzia will be conducted in 17 wards which include;
Mbakalo, Naitiri/ Kabuyefwe, Milima,
Nalondo West, Sitikho, Kimilili, Maraka, West Sang'alo, East Sang'alo, Bukembe West, Musikoma, Tuuti/Marakaru,
Khasoko, Kabula, Siboti, Kimaeti, Bumula and Kabula wards.

Then the entire 45 Wards in the County will be doing intestinal worms.

According to the County Coordinator Neglected Tropical Diseases Robert Wetoto, the deworming exercise will be conducted in schools and the community (Households and static places like markets, churches, offices and social gatherings like funerals).

"We have trained over 3,000 Community Health Promoters (CHPs) who will play an integral part in the deworming exercise, already the drugs and procurables have been distributed and delivered to sub counties in readiness for the kick-off," he said.

The department of health and sanitation expects to deworm 1.7 million people in Bungoma County.

He called upon the public to take this activity very seriously to help prevent the effects of bilharzia and intestinal worms which is a public health problem.

He advised the public to take up preventive measures like hand washing before a meal and after visiting a toilet, always use a toilet and not a bush for biological functions and also always drink safe water.

Additionally for the case of bilharzia people should not swim or bathe in rivers and water ponds and dams.

He assured the public that the drugs namely Albendazole, Mebendazole, and Praziquantel are safe and this is the activity the ministry has been doing in Bungoma since 2021 and this is the fifth round of the deworming activity and has always proven worm reduction.

Bungoma County Health and Sanitation CECM CPA Chrispinus Barasa led a team comprising the County health management team (CHMT) led by the CDH Dr Caleb Watta, Facility Med sups and in charges, Human Resource managers, Finance and procurement teams in preparing the Annual Work Plan, Procurement plan and Financial statements for the year 2025/2026.

The teams also shared the best practices and best approaches towards addressing challenges in the department with overall aim of improving service delivery .

Waziri highlighted on the need of coming up with well elaborated documents/ reports which will help improve the overall service delivery in the department.

The newly appointed Health and Sanitation CECM CPA Chrispinus Barasa has officially taken over the department from Hon. Carolyne Makali who has been moved to Finance, treasury and economic planning department following the recent Cabinet changes made by Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka.

Hon. Makali lauded the health team for giving her a humble time to work for the department where she initiated many development projects while at the same time wishing his predecessor well has he discharges his duties.

CPA Barasa requested the team to accord him support while calling for team work and cooperation for the success of the department.

The reshuffle is aimed at boosting efficiency, enhancing service delivery, and aligning departmental functions with key priorities.

Present during the handing and take over which took place at the department's board room were the Chief Officer Dr Magrina Mayama, CDH Dr Caleb Watta, County Health Management Team, Finance Director CPA Ambrose Makokha, Procurement team, Human Resources team among others.

A Collective Social Health Security Is A collective Responsibility -Makali Tells Clinical Officers

Bungoma County health and Sanitation CECM Hon. Carolyne Makali has challenged county executives, legislators, Clinical Officers and partners that achieving social health security is not a dream but a collective responsibility.

Speaking during the official launch of the two days for the Western Region Kenya Clinical Officers Association (KCOA) Symposium at Tourist Hotel in Bungoma town, Hon.Makali stated that they will only succeed if they work as a team.

She called on Clinicians to use the conference not only as a space to learn and network but as a rallying call to elevate their voice in policy, planning and service reform.

"Demand excellence, be ambassadors of change and remain grounded in your noble calling to serve," she said.

This year's theme is 'Strengthening Service Integration amidst Declining Donor Funding: Achieving Social Health Security Goals'.

Makali emphasized that we are living in a season where global donor support is shrinking, forcing us as a county and counties to rethink, restructure and reinforce our health systems from within.

"As the CECM responsible for policy direction, resource mobilization and overall health delivery in Bungoma, I want to affirm our commitment to service integration, primary health care and collaborative governance, clinical officers remain the heartbeat of our frontline health workforce, you are the backbone of service delivery in all levels," she said.

Present were the Chief Officer Dr.Magrina Mayama, CDH Dr.Caleb Watta, National, Regional and County officials of Clinical Officers.

The Technical Assistance team from NASCOP paid a courtesy call to the department of health and sanitation to discuss on how to reduce the eMTCT rates while aligning towards integration and sustainability.

The NASCOP team was led by Dr Imbuki, arrived for the purpose of giving Technical Assistance (T.A) in the County in order to eliminate Mother To Child Transmission (eMTCT) of HIV.

The County executive led by health and sanitation CECM Hon. Carolyne Makali lauded the team and expressed her satisfaction with the team adding that they play an important role in eliminating Mother To Child Transmission (eMTCT) of HIV.

Present were the Chief Officer Dr Magrina Mayama, CDH Dr Caleb Watta, you Kennedy Bomji, County Aids and STI Coordinator among other key stakeholders

Different stakeholders in Bungoma County have been called upon to be good ambassadors in combating Gender Based Violence (GBV).
Speaking in a Kimilili hotel in a meeting which had the blessings of the CDH Dr.Caleb Watta and CAYSRA/GBV/ECD Madam Milsen Kiplai, area Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) Mrs Rose Nyakwara called on stakeholders to engage the community members so that they can report any case of GBV.

"I will ensure that gender desk are created in every police station to handle the vice, I will also invite NGOs to this region to sensitive people about GBVs, this way we will be addressing the vice so that in the near future we would have stopped it," she said.

Her sentiments were echoed by Kimilili law court Principal Magistrate Wilfrida Onkunya who highlighted on how in**st, intimate partners violence, minors sexual relationships cases should be handled in court.

She called on parents to have basic knowledge and solve the GBV issues from the start, let them not abscond their duties.

The three day stakeholders meeting facilitated by Health Rights organization brought together Police gender desk, Administration, Religious Leaders, Media, Community Mobilisers, Judiciary and Civil Society Organisations.

Silas Chebon from the Health Rights pointed out that they finance GBV sensitisation meetings in Kabuchai and Kimilili sub counties where statistics have shown that the vice has skyrocketed.

"Through the pathways of change, we will capacity build and play an advocacy role to different stakeholders so that we fight GBV within the two Sub Counties.

Janet Khisa the County GBV Coordinator and Jesse Wamocho who coordinates CAYSRH called on stakeholders to unite in fighting Gender Based Violence.