{
  "id": 16861356,
  "title": "KEMSA Refurbishes Port Reitz Hospital Medicine Store to Boost Drug Safety",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/28/kemsa-refurbishes-port-reitz-hospital-medicine-store-to-boost-drug",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-28T06:40:09.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Capital FM Kenya",
    "slug": "capital-fm-kenya",
    "url": "https://capitalfm.africa/kemsa-refurbishes-port-reitz-hospital-medicine-store-to-boost-drug-safety/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.\n\nThe 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financial year, followed a needs assessment conducted in April 2025, which identified inadequate storage capacity and outdated infrastructure.\n\nWaqo Ejersa, CEO of KEMSA, highlighted that the refurbishment was crucial for maintaining the quality of medicines, which extends beyond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.\n\nEjersa 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.\n\nGovernor 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.",
  "summary": "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.",
  "key_points": [
    "KEMSA completes medicine store refurbishment at Port Reitz Hospital in Mombasa.",
    "Upgrades include temperature-controlled storage, repaired racks, and security enhancements.",
    "Governor Nassir welcomes project, emphasizing healthcare infrastructure collaboration."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Upgrading storage infrastructure through corporate social responsibility initiatives strengthens the partnership between national authorities and county governments to ensure the integrity of medical supplies for local populations.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}