County to Equip All 115 Health Facilities with Cancer Screening Tools, Says Njuki

Tharaka-Nithi to Equip All 115 Health Facilities with Cancer Screening Tools, Says Njuki

Governor Muthomi Njuki has announced plans by the County Government of Tharaka-Nithi to equip all 115 health facilities in the county with cancer screening equipment.

The Governor, while acknowledging that cancer is a major health concern in the country, especially in the Mt. Kenya region, said a majority of people are diagnosed at later stages. He noted that the county government is in the final stages of strengthening infrastructure and personnel to improve cancer care and support treatment.

“As a county, through the Department of Health, we are prepared to invest in early testing for cancer. I want to assure residents that in the next few months, we have plans in place to ensure cancer testing is done at the dispensary level. All our 115 health facilities must have cancer testing equipment and personnel,” he said.

The Governor noted that cancer testing, which typically costs approximately KShs 3,000, will be offered free of charge to residents registered under the Social Health Authority (SHA) medical scheme. He urged residents to register and make contributions to ease the financial burden of medical expenses.

Governor Njuki, who chairs the Health Committee at the Council of Governors, said the Social Health Authority (SHA) has introduced a flexible payment plan called “Lipa SHA Pole Pole” to make health insurance contributions more accessible. The plan allows Kenyans to pay in daily, weekly, or monthly installments.

The initiative, also known as “Lipa SHA Mos Mos,” is designed to ease the financial burden on those particularly in the informal sector, who may not afford the full annual contribution upfront.

Additionally, the Governor issued a stern warning to quack doctors and businesspeople operating medical facilities without proper credentials and approvals from the Ministry of Health, accusing them of endangering the lives of innocent Kenyans.

“We are losing many mothers through Cesarean sections induced by business people through hospitals. I support Health CS Aden Duale in saying there is a need to close hospitals without the necessary credentials. We will streamline health services to ensure they are licensed,” Governor Njuki said.

“There are even doctors who are using other doctors’ credentials to open facilities. We want to eliminate quack doctors and say no to the commercialization of health services as we advocate for professionalism,” he added.

The Governor was speaking at Mpukoni Hospital, where he commissioned the construction of a Mother and Child Complex and a Modern Outpatient Block.

The Mother and Child Complex, worth KShs 45 million, is an investment from the Safaricom Foundation. Once complete, it will host a 40-bed maternity wing, ICU complex, and a state-of-the-art theatre.

“We want to thank Safaricom for investing in the community. This is going to be the preferred choice for maternity services in the country, since it is world-class. We agreed as a county government to support the initiative through the construction of a modern Outpatient Block, which will be complete in one year to support medical services and facilitate the elevation of this facility to Level 4 status,” Njuki said.

Through counter-funding, the Governor announced a partnership with Safaricom to construct Muthambi Health Centre in the next phase starting January, with the goal of elevating it to Level 4 status to decongest services at Chuka Level 5 Referral Hospital.

He also announced plans to elevate Gatunga Hospital to relieve pressure on Marimanti Level 4 Hospital.

“We want to connect the community, uplift health standards, education standards, and the economic well-being of our communities that have supported us. We are happy to inject KShs 45 million to support this construction and give back to the community,” said Patrick Mburu, Safaricom Regional Manager.

The event was also attended by Deputy Governor Wilson Nyaga Muisrael, Health CECM Gichuiya Nthuraku, CECM Muthini Karangi, MCAs Godfrey Gaturo, Anita Mbae, Justin Kithinji, among others.