Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare (AMPATH) Population Health in collaboration with Dumisha Afya has donated a mobile X-ray truck to Busia County with a view to improve healthcare coverage in rural areas.
The handing over of the truck event was held at the Busia County Referral Hospital on Monday 5th of September 2023.
In his receiving remarks, Busia Deputy Governor, Arthur Odera, expressed confidence that the truck will help in delivering services in remote areas and health centers that ordinarily do not have the capacity and resources to position the X-ray machine. He also noted that the County will come up with a schedule for the truck movement.
‘With this truck, we will be able to achieve a level of efficiency in delivering services and as a County, we are also forced to think on how best to deliver services without over-reliance on brick and motor everywhere,’ he said. We will have a team working on this truck deployed on a yearly basis and ensuring that there is a mentorship program in every health facility which do not have X-ray services,” he said.
Dr. Susan Outa, Chief Officer of the Department of Health and Sanitation, promised that as part of her responsibility, she will ensure that the truck is mobile at all times and maintained throughout so that patients can get the required services from designated radiographers and radiologists who will be going around and also offer mentorship program.
“We will have a team working on this truck deployed on a yearly basis and ensuring that there is a mentorship program in every health facility which do not have X-ray services,’ she said.
Salome Sijenyi, leading Health Financing in AMPATH Population Health, indicated that their interest and top agenda is in advancing universal health coverage and access to diagnostics hence believes that when the truck moves across Busia County, people in remote areas will be able to access services.
“The priority in Busia County lies on the increase of expertise, as the County assigns a radiologist to the truck, the Organisation will provide a driver for mobility this will bring about co-creation and a co-implementation in strengthening health systems,” Sijenji said.
Two of the biggest challenges Kenyans face are too few healthcare professionals and no access to them. There are fewer than 200 radiologists in Kenya, and so many Kenyans don’t have access to transportation to the medical facilities in various areas that have access to radiologist’s services. That is why the mobile X-ray truck comes as a blessing to the country.
The truck is designed and fitted with an X-ray generator, computer radiograph system, and gasoline generator and is intended to offer X-rays and radiology services to patients in far-flung areas in the County.
AMPATH strives to improve the health of people in underserved communities by working in partnership with academic health centers, ministries of health, and others to build public sector health systems and promote well-being. Its main principle is leading with care with a view that one day all people, no matter where they live and what socioeconomic challenges they face, will have the health care they need and the resources to thrive in life.