By Robert Mutasi 
The County Government of Uasin Gishu is exploring a partnership with St John Ambulance Kenya to strengthen emergency medical services, expand first aid training and equip communities with life-saving skills.
On Tuesday, County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Health Services Janet Kurgat hosted a delegation from St John Ambulance Kenya, led by Council Chairman Robert Mutula, MBS, KStJ, and Chief Executive Officer Paul Ngugi, to discuss areas of collaboration aimed at improving emergency preparedness and healthcare delivery.
The discussions focused on strengthening pre-hospital emergency medical services, improving disaster response, expanding safety and first aid training, promoting community outreach and enhancing collaboration in public health programmes.
Speaking during the meeting, Kurgat said the development of a comprehensive Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) would establish a framework for cooperation in emergency medical services.
The proposed agreement is expected to cover emergency medical evacuations, coordinated responses to emergencies and improvements in the county’s emergency transport and fleet management systems.
Kurgat also emphasised the importance of strengthening the capacity of frontline health workers and community-based structures to respond effectively to emergencies.
She highlighted the need to extend standardised emergency response and first aid training to Community Health Promoters (CHPs), enabling them to provide timely assistance and basic stabilisation at the household level before patients are referred to health facilities.
Uasin Gishu Chief Officer for Clinical Services Ambrose Tarus and Chief Officer for Promotive and Preventive Health Dr Billy Lubanga said the proposed partnership would be aligned with the county’s existing healthcare systems.
The collaboration is expected to strengthen emergency response protocols across clinical services and preventive healthcare programmes, ensuring better coordination between community-level interventions and formal medical services.
The initiative also seeks to empower young people by equipping them with practical skills in first aid and emergency response, enabling them to play a greater role in promoting safety and protecting lives within their communities.
Once implemented, the partnership is expected to improve access to emergency assistance, particularly in rural and underserved areas, where delays in accessing medical services can have serious consequences.
The initiative will also support faster responses to road traffic accidents, medical emergencies and other incidents requiring urgent intervention, as Uasin Gishu seeks to strengthen its emergency preparedness and healthcare delivery systems.
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