CoG calls for more tech investment to transform healthcare in Kenya’s 47 counties
The Council made the call during the high-level “Connect, Power, Heal” side event held on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Nairobi, Kenya – The Council of Governors (CoG) has urged for enhanced collaboration and increased funding in technology to expedite healthcare advancements across Kenya's 47 counties. This call was made during the "Connect, Power, Heal" side event at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where county leaders, development partners, technology innovators, and health sector stakeholders convened to discuss ways of enhancing healthcare delivery through connectivity, stable power, and digital health solutions.
Mombasa Governor Abdullswamad Nassir, who chairs the CoG Health Committee, Nandi Governor Stephen Sang, head of the Resource Mobilisation and Partnerships Committee, and CoG Chief Executive Officer Mary Mwiti represented the Council. They emphasized the crucial role of county governments in enhancing maternal and newborn health, particularly through the Intercounty Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (MPDSR) Initiative, which is spearheaded at the CoG level.
This county-led initiative fosters collaboration, learning, and accountability among the 47 counties to tackle preventable maternal and newborn deaths.
Digital health and telemedicine were identified as pivotal opportunities for expanding access to specialized medical care, bolstering clinical mentorship, and improving patient outcomes. Mombasa County exemplified this by demonstrating how Proximie-enabled digital surgery has facilitated 87 surgical sessions and 143 hours of connected operating time, allowing specialists to collaborate remotely during surgical procedures.
This innovation has the potential to broaden access to expertise beyond the immediate vicinity of health facilities.
The Council underscored that sustained investment in digital connectivity and health technologies would empower counties to enhance healthcare service accessibility. Additionally, the Council unveiled the $531 million "Beyond Boundaries" Intercounty MPDSR Investment Case, which seeks global partnerships and finances to aid its implementation.
The investment aims to bolster county-led strategies for mitigating preventable maternal and newborn deaths through enhanced surveillance, response systems, collaboration, and accountability. The Council stressed that partnerships with development agencies, technology companies, and other stakeholders would be instrumental in scaling the initiative nationwide.
The Council reiterated its commitment to collaborating with partners to expand digital connectivity and health technologies while fortifying county-led healthcare programs. The overarching goal is to integrate connectivity, power, and digital health solutions to elevate healthcare delivery and ensure improved outcomes for mothers and newborns.
The Council's strategy is premised on the objective of eliminating maternal and newborn mortality, ensuring that every woman delivers safely and every newborn not only survives but thrives.
Written by urgent.news from Capital FM Kenya's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
