By Eldoret Leo 
More than 500 residents of Turbo Sub-County in Uasin Gishu County have benefited from free medical services following a comprehensive health outreach organised by the county government at Sugoi B Dispensary over the weekend.
The medical camp sought to improve access to essential healthcare services, particularly for residents in rural communities who often face challenges accessing well-equipped health facilities due to distance and financial constraints.
The outreach was spearheaded by Uasin Gishu County Chief Officer for Preventive and Promotive Health Services, Dr. Billy Lubanga, and offered a wide range of services, including general medical consultations, chronic disease management, gynaecological and obstetric care, cervical and breast cancer screening, family planning and registration under the Social Health Authority (SHA).
The initiative brought together several partners, including the Ministry of Health’s Division of Reproductive Health, the Chronic Disease Society and Phillips Pharmaceuticals.
Speaking during the exercise, Dr. Lubanga said the county was committed to decentralising healthcare services to ensure residents receive timely medical attention regardless of their geographical location.
“Quality healthcare should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their location or background. Through these medical camps, we are taking services closer to our communities, promoting early diagnosis, prevention and timely treatment of various health conditions,” he said.
Dr. Edward Serem, Head of the Division of Reproductive Health at the Ministry of Health, emphasised the importance of collaboration between national and county governments in improving healthcare delivery.
He called for sustained public education, routine medical screening and improved access to reproductive health information, noting that community outreach programmes play a critical role in reaching people who might otherwise delay seeking medical attention.
Turbo Sub-County Coordinator Wilson Tuwei and members of the Sub-County Health Management Team also participated in the exercise, overseeing coordination and ensuring residents received services efficiently.
Tuwei welcomed the county government’s initiative, saying medical camps were helping address challenges that prevent many rural households from accessing healthcare.
He noted that residents in remote parts of Turbo and other sub-counties often travel long distances to reach well-equipped health facilities, with transport expenses and lost working hours forcing some to postpone medical check-ups.
According to Tuwei, taking healthcare services directly to local dispensaries and community centres provides residents with an opportunity to access multiple services without incurring additional travel expenses.
He added that the outreaches were instrumental in detecting chronic illnesses and cancers at early stages, improving uptake of family planning and reproductive health services, and increasing SHA registration.
The initiative also reflects the importance of partnerships between county governments, national health institutions and private-sector players in strengthening healthcare delivery.
For residents of Sugoi and neighbouring communities, the medical camp provided an opportunity to access essential healthcare services closer to home, reinforcing efforts to improve preventive healthcare and advance universal health coverage in Uasin Gishu County.
Baraka Simba 
Robert Mutasi