On 14th April 2023, a Transform Health Kenya delegation paid a courtesy visit to the Kisumu County Government, Department of Health. The visit was aimed at knowledge sharing on opportunities for advancing access to quality healthcare for all using digital health technologies and data in Kisumu County. The meeting was attended by the Chief Officer, Dr. Lusi, Director of ICT, Migot Nicholas and the Digital Health Lead, Dr. Khizra Syed among other officers. The Coalition was represented by officers from KELIN led by Timothy Wafula, Youth Alive! Kenya, Nelson Mandela HIV & TB Resource Centre, Pictures Youth Group, Border Hub, Men for Positive Living Support CBO.
Key discussions held revolved around partnership to develop and enact a county-specific E-Health policy for Kisumu County. Youth are the driving force of technology because of their robust interest and engagement with technological innovations. The partnership also aims to support and enhance youth engagement in public participation in policy formulation and county budget advocacy on digital health.
Kisumu County is a county of interest to the coalition as a county that has shown keen interest in digital health transformation. The County has exhibited strides in its recent initiatives to embrace digital health innovations to improve health service delivery. It has launched trail blazing applications to enhance healthcare service delivery including the COVIDConnect Mobile Application (LUSCII Application) which is a mobile application that enables Kisumu residents to carry out self-checks for corona related symptoms; Maisha Meds Application, an inventory management mobile system to boost efficiency in supply and prescription of medicine and; a Zipline that will deliver medical products to a substantive number of health facilities across Kisumu County, among others.
The partnership between Kisumu County and the coalition comes at an opportune time when Kenya is vigorously strengthening the legislative framework on digital health technologies and data to align efforts with Article 43 (1) of the Constitution on the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health. Transform Health Kenya Coalition is working to support the same efforts in counties across Kenya starting with Kisumu County.
To contribute to discussion on this forum, follow Transform Health Kenya on:
Twitter: @Trans4mHealthKe
Or;
Email: transformhealthke@gmail.com
And;
KELIN on our social media platforms.
Twitter: @KELINKenya
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/kelinkenya
For more information, please contact:
Martha Ogutu | Health Governance
Kuwinda Lane,off Langata Road, Karen C
P O Box 112 – 00202 KNH Nairobi
Tel: 020, 2515790
E-mail: marthaogutu@kelinkenya.org
Website: www.kelinkenya.org
