Vihiga partner with USAID -Afya Ugavi to enhance better Health service delivery

Vihiga County will soon digitalize operations in all health facilities across the county which are currently relying on burdensome and paper-based data collection that not only leads to inaccuracies but also delays effective service delivery. This is according to Governor Dr. Wilber Ottichilo who spoke today at a Health Products and Technology Unit (HPTU) operationalization workshop held in Gisambai ward, Hamisi Sub County.

Dr. Ottichilo took the opportunity to appreciate partners who have worked round the clock to ensure Vihiga County forms a HPTU. He also assured them that Vihiga will do its best to oversee the management of health products across the county for effective supply chain and health commodity systems strengthening.

The Governor stated that access to affordable, accessible and quality medicine is one of the most crucial elements and with the formation of the HPTU, strong health supply chains with visible, high quality data from the very start of a system right through to its end point will be available.

The data will then be used to determine demand, plan procurement, monitor consumption trends, assess stock levels, decide on resupply quantities, prevent medicine expiry and monitor the capacity and performance of the entire supply chain. However, the County Boss affirmed that his administration will ensure capacity building for staff so that people who are committed and with the right attitude work together.

Partners present led by Monica Dea, a senior Health Advisor at United States Agency for International Development (USAID) reiterated that they are committed to efficient, effective and accountable supply chain so as to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC). They also promised to provide technical support to ensure that all counties have HPTU.

This will in turn, benefit the end-users who are residents with an assurance of constant availability of quality health products and improved health outcomes. By automating and expediting the collection of data, improved visibility will be achieved thus leading to better patient care by improving the availability of essential commodities where required most at the time the patient requires them.

Additionally, supply chain costs will reduce through less expenses, wastage and excessive stock holding, tying up capital that may be used on other patient-centered outcomes. USAID Afya Ugavi project has supported Vihiga County and seen it improve in management and distribution of health commodities effectively for better service delivery.