Governor Simon Kachapin welcomes transition of health assets funded through United States Government support as West Pokot strengthens healthcare services and advances efforts to eliminate mother-to-child HIV transmission.

West Pokot County has received health assets valued at KSh 16.39 million from AMPATH Uzima in a transition milestone aimed at strengthening local ownership, improving healthcare delivery and sustaining gains made through years of health sector collaboration.

The assets, valued at KSh 16,386,986 (approximately US$126,000), were officially handed over to the West Pokot County Government during a ceremony held at the Governor’s Residence in Kapenguria in mid-September.

The transfer was made possible through support from the United States Government and forms part of an ongoing transition process involving AMPATH Uzima and county governments. West Pokot is among four counties supported by the programme that are receiving health assets as part of the transition.

The ceremony brought together West Pokot Governor Simon Kachapin, AMPATH Uzima Chief of Party Professor Sylvester Kimaiyo, members of the County Executive Committee, chief officers, county officials and representatives of the AMPATH Uzima team.

The handover marked the culmination of a collaborative process led by a joint committee comprising representatives from AMPATH Uzima and the county government, underscoring the importance of coordination in transferring health programme resources and responsibilities.

Governor Kachapin Applauds Longstanding Healthcare Partnership

Speaking during the ceremony, Governor Kachapin expressed appreciation to AMPATH Uzima and the United States Government for their longstanding partnership with West Pokot County.

The governor noted that the programme had helped restore hope to numerous families through the provision of quality healthcare, medical assistance and technical support.

He said the transferred assets would further strengthen service delivery across health facilities and enhance the county government's capacity to provide quality healthcare to residents.

The handover represents an important step in ensuring that resources accumulated through development partnerships continue supporting healthcare services under county leadership.

For West Pokot, the transition provides an opportunity to build on existing health programmes while strengthening local systems responsible for delivering essential services to communities.

The partnership between the county government and AMPATH Uzima has supported interventions in areas including HIV services and broader healthcare delivery, contributing to efforts to improve health outcomes.

Mother-to-Child HIV Transmission Declines to 7.8%

One of the key highlights of the ceremony was the progress reported in reducing mother-to-child transmission of HIV in West Pokot County.

Professor Kimaiyo noted that the county had made significant strides towards eliminating such transmission, with rates declining from 15 per cent in 2020 to 11 per cent in 2021, when AMPATH Uzima began supporting HIV services in the county.

According to the figures presented during the event, the rate had further declined to 7.8 per cent in 2026, bringing West Pokot closer to the national elimination target of 5 per cent or below.

The reported reduction points to progress in efforts to strengthen HIV prevention and treatment services for mothers and children.

Preventing mother-to-child transmission remains an important public health priority, requiring effective antenatal care, timely HIV testing, access to treatment and follow-up services for mothers and exposed infants.

Professor Kimaiyo's remarks highlighted the importance of sustaining these gains as health programme responsibilities increasingly transition to government systems.

He emphasised that the achievements recorded over the years should be protected through continued commitment, adequate planning and effective implementation of health interventions.

The county's progress towards the national target will depend on maintaining access to essential services and ensuring that mothers and children continue receiving appropriate care.

Government-to-Government Transition Signals New Chapter

Professor Kimaiyo thanked the county government, led by Governor Kachapin, for its continued collaboration in strengthening healthcare services in West Pokot.

He described the ongoing Government-to-Government (G2G) transition as the beginning of a new chapter that would reinforce county ownership, leadership and sustainability of health programmes.

The transition is intended to strengthen the role of government institutions in managing health interventions while preserving the progress achieved through partnerships with implementing organisations.

Under this approach, county leadership and health systems become increasingly central to coordinating services, managing resources and sustaining programme activities.

The transfer of health assets is therefore a practical component of the broader transition, helping ensure that equipment and other resources remain available to support healthcare delivery.

The process also highlights the importance of clear coordination between partners and government departments to maintain continuity of services during institutional changes.

For West Pokot, the priority will be to integrate the transferred assets into existing health systems and ensure they contribute effectively to the delivery of services across county health facilities.

The transition further reinforces the need for local planning, accountability and resource management to sustain improvements in healthcare beyond the period of external programme support.

County Launches Three Key Health Operational Plans

The handover ceremony also featured the launch of three strategic health documents intended to guide the implementation and coordination of county health programmes.

These were the Integrated Specimen Referral System (ISRS) Operational Plan for 2025–2027, the County Tuberculosis (TB) Strategic Operational Framework for 2023/24–2027/28, and the County Syndemic Diseases Operational Plan for 2025–2030.

The documents are expected to provide frameworks for planning, coordinating and implementing interventions across their respective areas of focus.

The ISRS Operational Plan focuses on strengthening the referral of medical specimens, an essential component of timely laboratory testing and effective disease diagnosis.

Efficient specimen referral systems help health facilities transport samples to appropriate laboratories, supporting accurate diagnosis and timely clinical decisions, particularly where specialised testing is not available at every facility.

The County TB Strategic Operational Framework provides a planning structure for tuberculosis interventions, while the County Syndemic Diseases Operational Plan addresses coordinated approaches to health challenges that may overlap or interact.

The launch of the three documents during the transition ceremony underscored the importance of combining asset transfers with clear operational plans to support continuity and strengthen the implementation of health programmes.

ISRS Riders Flagged Off to Strengthen Specimen Referral

Another key moment during the event was the symbolic flag-off of Integrated Specimen Referral System riders.

The riders were equipped with protective gear and specimen transportation equipment, signalling the county's commitment to improving the movement of medical specimens between health facilities and laboratories.

Reliable specimen transportation is critical to healthcare delivery because delays in laboratory testing can affect diagnosis, treatment decisions and patient management.

The ISRS initiative is intended to strengthen coordination within the specimen referral chain and support health facilities in accessing laboratory services more efficiently.

The flag-off also highlighted the role of frontline personnel and logistical systems in supporting public health services, particularly in areas where geographical distances can create challenges for access to specialised testing.

By strengthening specimen referral operations, the county aims to support more efficient diagnostic services and improve coordination among health facilities and laboratories.

The initiative complements the wider transition process by demonstrating how operational planning, equipment and personnel can work together to sustain health service delivery.

Partnership Celebrated as County Takes Greater Ownership

The ceremony concluded with a cake-cutting event celebrating the longstanding partnership between AMPATH Uzima and the West Pokot County Government.

The gathering provided an opportunity for the two institutions to recognise their collaboration and reflect on the progress achieved through joint efforts to strengthen healthcare services.

The transfer of assets valued at more than KSh 16 million, the launch of three health operational plans and the flag-off of ISRS riders collectively marked an important milestone in the county's transition towards greater ownership of health programmes.

As the transition continues, maintaining the gains achieved in HIV prevention, tuberculosis interventions, specimen referral and other health services will remain essential.

The county government's ability to integrate the transferred assets into its health systems, implement the new operational plans and sustain collaboration with relevant partners will be central to the long-term impact of the transition.

For West Pokot residents, the ultimate objective remains improved access to reliable, quality and sustainable healthcare services.

The handover signals a shift towards stronger county leadership in managing health resources, while recognising the contribution of AMPATH Uzima and the United States Government in supporting healthcare interventions over the years.

As West Pokot takes greater ownership of its health programmes, the focus now turns to sustaining progress, strengthening service delivery and ensuring that communities continue to benefit from accessible and quality healthcare.