Embu Launches Programme to Decentralize Specialized Medical Care

Embu County has launched a new health outreach programme aimed at taking specialized medical services closer to residents in rural areas as part of efforts to improve access to healthcare.

The initiative, dubbed “Madaktari Mashinani” (Doctors in the Grassroots), will see the county’s Department of Health deploy teams of specialist doctors to rural sub-counties to provide consultations, disease screening and rehabilitative care.

Speaking during the first outreach event held at Kategi Health Center on Saturday, County Public Health Chief Officer Henry Nthiga said the programme seeks to decentralize healthcare services by shifting specialized treatment from major hospitals to local health facilities.

“Our objective is to ensure residents can access specialized care and treatment at the local primary care facilities to reduce the burden of long-distance travel to major facilities such as our Level Five Hospital,” said Nthiga.

He noted that many patients from remote areas have often failed to attend referral appointments because of transport costs and the physical challenges involved in travelling long distances.

“We have seen cases of patients referred for specialized treatment failing to honour their referrals as a result of cost and distance factors that could occasion deterioration of conditions or lead to irreversible damage,” he said.

Nthiga explained that the outreach initiative will enable patients to receive medical reviews and follow-up care at health facilities closer to their homes.

Area Medical Officer of Health Terry Matheka said the programme had also exposed the high number of residents silently suffering from illnesses due to lack of access to specialized healthcare services.

“The sheer number of patients who have attended this outreach camp indicates a hidden burden of diseases from people at the grassroots unable to access specialized care at our major facilities,” she said.

Matheka raised concern over the increasing cases of non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, diabetes and cancer, urging residents to seek regular medical check-ups for early diagnosis and treatment.

She emphasized that early detection remains critical in preventing complications and deaths associated with chronic illnesses.

Residents who attended the outreach camp welcomed the initiative, describing it as a major relief for families unable to afford frequent trips to referral hospitals.

Among them was Miriam Nyaguthii, whose child was diagnosed with Down syndrome during the outreach programme.

She said the initiative enabled her to access pediatric specialist services that would otherwise have required costly travel to Nairobi.

“Though I was given a referral to Kenyatta National Hospital, I am glad I now understand what has been affecting my child and where to seek further assistance,” she said.

County health officials say the “Madaktari Mashinani” programme will be rolled out across other sub-counties as the county government intensifies efforts to strengthen primary healthcare and improve access to specialized treatment services in rural communities.