Garissa residents set to benefit as Balambala Hospital goes digital

Garissa residents set to benefit as Balambala Hospital goes digital

The launch coincided with a three-day free medical and surgical camp, which provided consultations, wellness check-ups, and health education to nearly 2,000 people in the area.

Residents of Balambala Sub-County in Garissa County are set to experience faster and more efficient healthcare services following the Ministry of Health’s launch of a digital Health Management Information System (HMIS) at Balambala Sub-County Hospital.

The launch coincided with a three-day free medical and surgical camp, which provided consultations, wellness check-ups, and health education to nearly 2,000 people in the area.

Balambala Hospital is now the first rural Sub-County facility in the region to be fully digitised, marking a milestone in Kenya’s push to scale up technology-enabled health systems across all counties.

The Ministry has equipped the hospital with 40 digital devices and trained 35 healthcare workers to accelerate the rollout of the new system. The digitisation is expected to improve patient care by enabling healthcare providers to securely access records, strengthen care coordination, minimise medical errors, and reduce unregulated practices in the sector.

Balambala Sub-County Hospital in Garissa County, is the first rural Sub-County hospital to go fully digital. (X/Aden Duale)

During the camp, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale toured the refurbished and expanded Level 4 facility, highlighting the impact it will have on local communities.

The medical camp also advanced Kenya’s health financing reforms through the Social Health Authority (SHA). To date, 1,786 residents have been registered under SHA, representing 19 per cent of Garissa County’s 171,730 population. Additionally, 1,994 patients received services during the camp, including medical consultations, wellness check-ups, and health education.

Local leaders, including Governor Nadhif Jama, Senator Abdul Haji, and Members of Parliament Abdi Shurie of Balambala, Salah Yakub of Fafi, and Dekow Barrow of Garissa Township, were present at Balambala Sub-County Hospital during the launch and medical camp, interacting with residents and observing the services being provided.

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