[Kisii Governor James Ongwae flagging off Ambulances in a past event. He is set to host Health Conference for Lake Region Counties. Photo/Hivisasa.com]
Preparations are underway for the inaugural Lake Region Economic Bloc health conference set to be held in Kisii County from Wednesday (today).
The two-day conference comprising county and private health sector professionals and stakeholders from the bloc’s 13 member counties, will address issues pertaining to the health sector.
Governor James Ongwae is expected to open the conference st Kisii University which is the first of its kind in the country accompanied by his colleagues in the bloc.
Member counties in the bloc expected to send representation are Kisumu, Kakamega, Kisii, Homa Bay, Bungoma, Bomet, Trans Nzoia, Siaya, Nyamira, Busia, Kericho, Vihiga and Migori.
Among the topics set to take centre stage during the discussions are the disease burden, the high HIV prevalence in the region, malaria prevention and control, infant mortality and inadequate human resource capacity in medical facilities in the region.
Health care service providers in the private sector will also exhibit the various range of services and products in selected conference stalls in addition to presentations by professionals in the industry.
Among the exhibits expected to be showcased in the conference will be the latest innovations in orthopaedic and physiotherapy equipment, dialysis, cancer diagnosis, diabetes management cum treatment technology and radiotherapy regimens.
Last week, Kisii County Governor James Ongwae proposed the sharing of specialists among the region’s medical facilities in a bid to address the shortage of medical expertise in the region.
“Counties do not have the funds and organizational capacity to employ all the specialists they may require but this does not mean they cannot pool resources. We can share the expertise that our various consultant medical experts have acquired over the years through rotating duty rosters and telemedicine,” said Governor Ongwae.
“If we have a skin specialist in Kisii, for instance, we should be able to share with other facilities in the bloc. If by any chance the medic is unable to travel because of busy schedules, then he can share his expertise with those that require it through telemedicine because we have improved diagnostic services in all the bloc’s devolved units,” said the conference host governor.
He appealed to members of the public to attend the conference, saying it was an opportunity to acquaint themselves with quality health service provision in the region in private and state-run facilities.
“Come and experience the best of what this region has to offer in terms of health care services,” said the governor.