CABINET INSPECTION OF SIAYA COUNTY REFERRAL HOSPITAL EMERGENCY UNIT AHEAD OF COMMISSIONING BY GOV. ORENGO

On Monday, a cabinet delegation led by the County Secretary Mr. James Ogutu conducted an inspection tour of the Siaya County Referral Hospital’s Emergency Unit in preparation for its official handover by Governor James Orengo later this month.

The facility includes a procedure room for minor surgeries, patient cubicles, accessible washrooms for various disability groups, nursing stations, staff rest areas, a stretcher bay, a plaster room, and a sluice room. This 14-bed unit is designed to serve the emergency medical needs of patients in Siaya and neighboring counties.

The inspection was guided by Emergency Medical Services Coordinator and Chief Nursing Officer Godfrey Odhiambo, alongside Medical Superintendent Dr. Caleb Otieno. The upcoming commissioning of the facility promises to provide affordable outpatient and inpatient services, offering hope and accessible care to the community.

Siaya County continues to witness a major transformation in its health sector as the Nyalore administration rolls out an ambitious healthcare infrastructure development program aimed at improving maternal, surgical, and general healthcare services across all sub-counties.

In Sigomere Ward, Ugunja Sub-County, construction is underway for a new maternity complex at Sigomere Health Centre. The facility is expected to significantly ease the burden on surrounding health centers by offering antenatal, delivery, and postnatal care services under one roof. The project comes in response to rising maternal cases and is part of a broader agenda by the County Department of Health and Sanitation to address maternal health gaps at the grassroots level.

A similar development is taking shape at Boro Health Centre in Central Alego Ward. Construction of a new maternity wing is in progress, aimed at decongesting Siaya County Referral Hospital and ensuring that women from rural communities can access delivery services closer to home. Once completed, the Boro facility is expected to serve hundreds of expectant mothers from the neighboring villages of Mulaha and Mwer.

In West Ugenya Ward, Nyang’u Health Centre has already seen remarkable progress. Construction of a brand-new maternity unit and laboratory was officiated in December 2024, following a partnership between the County Government and the M-Pesa Foundation. The project, when completed, aims to serve a population of over 8,000 residents, reducing the need for mothers to travel long distances to access skilled birth services.

In addition to the ongoing construction projects, the County Government has upgraded over 27 dispensaries to fully-fledged health centres as part of its broader strategy to strengthen primary healthcare delivery across all wards. This bold move aims to decentralize essential services, ensuring that residents, especially those in remote and underserved areas, can access comprehensive care closer to home. The upgraded facilities are now better equipped to handle a wider range of services, including outpatient treatment, maternal and child healthcare, immunization, family planning, and minor surgical procedures. Among the notable facilities that have undergone this transformation are Rera Health Centre in Gem Sub-County, Ong’ielo in Rarieda, Urenga in Ugenya sub county, Usigu in Bondo sub county, and Boro in Alego Usonga sub county.

These health centres not only reduce pressure on Siaya County Referral Hospital but also enhance early diagnosis and intervention at the community level, ultimately improving health outcomes and reducing preventable illnesses and deaths. Health remains a cornerstone of Gov. Orengo’s 9-Point Agenda, which prioritizes enhancing universal healthcare infrastructure to improve the lives of Siaya residents.