A Sh31.3 million upgrade at Nyenye Misori Dispensary in Usigu, Siaya County, has been completed, benefiting at least 14,000 residents of West Imbo Ward and neighbouring areas. The upgrade, funded by the M-Pesa Foundation, includes a newly constructed and equipped Outpatient Department wing. This investment aims to improve access to healthcare services, particularly for mothers, newborns, children, and adolescents. The dispensary was officially handed over in a ceremony attended by Siaya Governor James Orengo and Safaricom PLC board member Edward Okwaro.
The upgraded dispensary features a triage station, consultation rooms, a Child Welfare Clinic, an antenatal care room, a modern laboratory, a pharmacy, and a dedicated children's waiting area. The M-Pesa Foundation also renovated the existing maternity wing, upgraded sanitation facilities, and undertook landscaping to improve the environment for patients and healthcare workers. The facility has been equipped with medical devices and digital tools to support diagnosis, patient management, and daily service delivery. These upgrades are expected to ease congestion, improve patient privacy, and expand the range of services available at the facility.
The expanded outpatient department will allow the maternity wing to concentrate on maternal healthcare services, promoting safe motherhood. As part of efforts to support new mothers, Mama Packs were distributed during the handover ceremony. The project falls under the M-Pesa Foundation's Uzazi Salama programme, which focuses on improving access to reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health services. The programme addresses three delays that often prevent patients from receiving timely medical attention: delays in deciding to seek treatment, reaching a health facility, and receiving appropriate care after arrival.
The M-Pesa Foundation's investment in the dispensary is part of its wider healthcare interventions, which include infrastructure development, medical camps, fistula treatment, maternal and child health programmes, and technology-enabled specialist services. The Foundation's commitment to healthcare is driven by the understanding that poor health affects the entire community, including people's livelihoods and economic growth. According to Edward Okwaro, access to quality healthcare is essential in improving livelihoods and supporting economic development at the community level.
The handover ceremony highlights the role of partnerships between development organisations, county governments, and healthcare professionals in expanding access to essential services, particularly in underserved communities. The M-Pesa Foundation's Uzazi Salama programme supports essential interventions, including antenatal care, safe delivery, postnatal care, and child health services. The programme seeks to bring healthcare services closer to communities, with a focus on improving health outcomes and reducing maternal and child mortality rates.
The upgraded dispensary is expected to have a significant impact on the community, particularly in terms of improving access to healthcare services. The facility's new equipment and infrastructure will enable healthcare workers to provide better care to patients, while the expanded services will help to reduce congestion and waiting times. The M-Pesa Foundation's investment in the dispensary is a significant step towards improving healthcare outcomes in Siaya County.
The project demonstrates the importance of partnerships in improving healthcare outcomes. The M-Pesa Foundation's collaboration with the county government and healthcare professionals has resulted in a significant improvement in healthcare services for the community. The upgraded dispensary is a testament to the impact that can be achieved through collaborative efforts to improve healthcare outcomes.
Key points
- The M-Pesa Foundation's Sh31.3 million investment in the Misori Dispensary upgrade aims to improve access to healthcare services for 14,000 residents in Siaya County.
- The upgraded dispensary features a new Outpatient Department wing, a modern laboratory, and a pharmacy, among other facilities.
- The project is part of the M-Pesa Foundation's Uzazi Salama programme, which focuses on improving access to reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health services.
