On 15th August 2024, H.E. the Governor Mohamed Adan Khalif commissioned a modern dental unit at the Mandera County Referral Hospital (MCRH) and officially signed two key health bills into law: the Community Health Services (CHS) Bill and the County Health Services Improvement Financing (FIF) Bill.
In his speech, the Governor highlighted the county’s commitment to improving healthcare services since the advent of devolution. Mandera County has been working diligently to align its healthcare efforts with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the aspiration of achieving universal health care for all, including cross-border patients from Ethiopia and Somalia. The Governor noted that these efforts will not only reduce the burden of diseases but also enhance the overall wellness and productivity of the county’s residents.
The Governor also underscored the county’s ongoing healthcare transformation, including the upgrading of all Level 4 hospitals and MCRH (Level 5) to provide comprehensive specialized services. Over the past year, the referral hospital’s specialized services have expanded significantly, with 240 patients treated in the renal unit, 2,026 served by the CT scan unit, and 97 patients attended to by the ICU and HDU. The hospital now has 17 consultants in various specialties, and recruitment is underway for seven more consultants and 187 additional health personnel to further enhance service delivery.
The newly launched dental unit at MCRH, which the Governor commissioned, represents a significant milestone in the county’s healthcare system. The unit is equipped with cutting-edge dental technology, including Intra Oral X-ray equipment, and staffed by nine technical dental professionals, including a consultant restorative dentist. The facility offers a wide range of services, such as dental extractions, fillings, root canals, and more, and is part of the Governor’s broader strategy to ensure that residents have access to high-quality dental care.
In addition to launching the dental unit, the Governor also signed the CHS and FIF bills into law. The FIF Bill provides a legal framework for health facilities to retain revenue, which will improve the efficiency and quality of services in the county. The CHS Bill, meanwhile, aims to establish community health units and create a strong institutional framework for delivering health services at the grassroots level.
These initiatives, launched and signed by H.E. Mohamed Adan Khalif, mark major steps in Mandera County’s commitment to improving healthcare for all its residents.
