A BOOST TO PAEDIATRIC SERVICES IN VIHIGA AS ‘DAKTARI SMART’ PROGRAM IS INITIATED IN THE COUNTY

Vihiga County has today been onboarded onto the ‘Daktari Smart’ program, a telemedicine program by M-Pesa Foundation, in partnership with Gertrude’s Hospital Foundation.

The program aimed at improving access to quality paediatric care will see the county benefit from a telemedicine centre to be set up at the Vihiga County Referral Hospital.

While hosting a delegation from Gertrude’s Hospital Foundation, Vihiga Governor Dr. Wilber Khasilwa Ottichilo lauded the partners noting the paramount role they will play in enabling the county residents to leverage on health technologies and access experts in childcare, which has been a challenge.

“This is a new beginning in the healthcare system. As we move into Universal Health Coverage (UHC), I see telemedicine play a critical role and this is going to solve some of the problems we have been facing like few specialists and lack of specialists in rural areas,” said Governor Ottichilo.

The Gertrude’s Hospital Foundation team led by Dr. Carol Waweru expressed their excitement to work with Vihiga County in the medical service delivery.

Vihiga County will benefit from the second phase of the ‘Daktari Smart’ program which has been implemented in Samburu, Homa Bay, Baringo and Lamu counties benefitting over 23,000 children in the first phase of its implementation.