[Photo/MoH]
Residents of Tana River County can now access theater services and surgical equipment at Hola Level 5 and Bura Level 4 public hospitals. The Ministry of Health has indicated that theater services are also being enhanced with construction of a new theater at Garden Level 4 hospital. In 2013 the county had analog radiology equipment at Hola and Garsen public hospitals but they now have access to digital technology enhancing patient through, the National government's Managed Equipment Project.In an update, Monday, the Director of Medical Services Dr Jackson Kioko said there were only 1,982 deliveries in public hospitals in Tana River in 2013, but the number stands at 8,179 now.With free maternity services, the ministry has seen the number of women delivering in public facilities rise from 600,000 in 2013 to 1.2 million in 2015, decreasing the Maternal Mortality Ratio from 488 to 362 per 100,000.