By Robert Mutasi 
Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii Chelilim has said the county is strengthening its public healthcare system by placing greater emphasis on prevention, early diagnosis and timely treatment.
Bii spoke during the commissioning of several new services at Huruma Sub-County Hospital, including a drug store, postnatal ward, dental unit, radiation section and Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) programme.
The governor said the new services would improve the hospital’s ability to diagnose and treat patients while making specialised care more accessible to residents within their communities.
“Our health approach is currently shifting towards a more comprehensive, preventive and responsive healthcare system, anchored on early detection, timely intervention and quality care,” Bii said.
He said the expanded services would also support maternal and newborn health by improving the care available to mothers after delivery.
The dental unit will increase access to oral healthcare, while the radiation section will add to the hospital’s diagnostic and treatment capacity.
Bii also highlighted the introduction of the POCUS programme, which will allow healthcare workers to conduct ultrasound examinations at the point of care. The programme is expected to support faster assessment of patients and help medical teams identify certain conditions at an earlier stage.
The governor said improving diagnostic capacity at Huruma would help reduce unnecessary referrals and long journeys by residents seeking specialised medical attention.
“These services will strengthen diagnosis and treatment, improve maternal and newborn care, expand access to dental and specialised services, and enable healthcare workers to detect and respond to conditions earlier, reducing the need for patients to travel long distances in search of care,” he said.
The latest improvements form part of the county government’s wider efforts to expand healthcare services and upgrade public health facilities across Uasin Gishu.
Bii said the county would continue investing in infrastructure, equipment and services aimed at bringing quality healthcare closer to residents.