Residents of Ombeyi-Miwani Ward in Muhoroni Constituency have urged the Kisumu County Government to fast-track the upgrading and gazettement of Ramula Health Centre to a Level 3 facility. This would improve access to essential healthcare services for the community. The health facility has been operating with limited medical facilities, leading to concerns over the quality of health services provided. Patients are often referred to seek specialised treatment in Ahero County Hospital or Kisumu town.
The proposed upgrade would enable the medical centre to serve over 8,600 people in Ombeyi-Miwani Ward, offering improved access to quality healthcare services such as surgical and laboratory services, and inpatient and outpatient care. The appeal was made during a community scorecard dissemination forum organised by Hope to the Vulnerable Communities (HOVUC) organisation and stakeholders. The forum brought together residents, healthcare providers, local leaders, and development partners to assess service delivery challenges and identify interventions to improve healthcare access.
Community members raised concerns over inadequate infrastructure, poor road access, understaffing, inconsistent availability of medicines and diagnostic supplies, and challenges with Social Health Authority (SHA) services. Joseph Kamire, a village elder from Kadongo village, noted that poor road conditions affect access to healthcare, especially during the rainy season. He emphasised the need for improved access roads, more healthcare workers, and consistent supplies of pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical commodities.
Ramula Health Facility nurse in charge, Jesca Akinyi, welcomed the proposed elevation, saying it would improve the facility's access to resources and strengthen its ability to deliver comprehensive healthcare services. However, she identified several infrastructure gaps that need urgent attention, including inadequate sanitation facilities and limited laboratory space. Akinyi also raised concerns about the lack of disability-friendly infrastructure, making it difficult for persons with disabilities to access healthcare services.
Akinyi further revealed that the 24-hour facility is operating with only four nurses, one clinician, and one laboratory technician, contributing to staff exhaustion and affecting service delivery. She added that inadequate diagnostic equipment and supplies continue to undermine the provision of essential medical services. The nurse cited inadequate supplies of essential drugs, including artemether-lumefantrine, oral rehydration salts, and paracetamol syrup.
The Ramula Health Centre Management Committee chairperson, Donn Athembo, called on the county government and development partners to implement recommendations emerging from the community scorecard exercise. Athembo identified staff shortages as one of the facility's biggest challenges, contributing to long waiting times and delays in accessing healthcare. He disclosed that the management committee had hired three staff members on contract to address staffing gaps.
Anthony Oduor, team leader at HOVUC, said the community scorecard exercise had enabled residents to identify priority healthcare challenges and develop an actionable plan to address them. Oduor urged the county health department, community members, and other stakeholders to work together to address identified gaps and advance access to universal healthcare. He also proposed capacity-building programmes for the facility's Management Committee to strengthen its oversight and accountability role.
Key points
- Residents of Ombeyi-Miwani Ward urge Kisumu County Government to upgrade Ramula Health Centre to a Level 3 facility.
- The proposed upgrade would serve over 8,600 people, offering improved access to quality healthcare services.
- Community members raise concerns over inadequate infrastructure, poor road access, and understaffing.
