KEMSA Refurbishes Port Reitz Hospital Medicine Store to Boost Drug Safety
The upgraded facility is expected to strengthen medicine storage, stock management and protection of medical supplies serving more than 300,000 people in Changamwe, Jomvu and surrounding areas.
The Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) has completed a refurbishment of the medicine store at Port Reitz Sub-County Hospital in Mombasa, with the goal of enhancing the safety and efficacy of vital medicines. This upgrade aims to bolster medicine storage, inventory management, and protection of medical supplies, serving over 300,000 people in Changamwe, Jomvu, and surrounding regions.
The handover ceremony was attended by Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Sheriff Nassir, underscoring a partnership between KEMSA and the county government to enhance healthcare infrastructure and the management of health products. The refurbishment, undertaken as part of KEMSA's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program for the 2025/2026 financial year, followed a needs assessment conducted in April 2025, which identified inadequate storage capacity and outdated infrastructure.
Waqo Ejersa, CEO of KEMSA, highlighted that the refurbishment was crucial for maintaining the quality of medicines, which extends beyond procurement and delivery to encompass appropriate storage conditions that preserve product integrity until reaching patients. The improvements included installing a ceiling and air-conditioning system for temperature control, repairing storage racks, reinforcing walls, and constructing washrooms, offices, and gutters for rainwater harvesting.
Security enhancements also involved adding windows with security grills, new doors, and perimeter pavement to deter pests and water damage.
Ejersa emphasized that proper storage infrastructure is vital for adhering to Good Storage and Distribution Practices and preventing deterioration caused by unsuitable temperatures, moisture, pests, and inadequate security. He stressed that infrastructure upgrades must be accompanied by regular temperature monitoring, precise inventory records, equipment maintenance, and adherence to product-specific storage requirements.
Governor Nassir welcomed the refurbishment, emphasizing the importance of collaboration between national institutions and county governments in addressing healthcare delivery challenges. He commended KEMSA's CSR program for its role in supporting health systems and ensuring the availability of quality, affordable medical supplies. The project is part of KEMSA's broader CSR efforts to strengthen county health systems and improve access to essential health products and technologies.
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.
