From silence to success: Modogashe Hospital celebrates year of life-saving transformations

Locals and staff at the Modogashe Sub-County Hospital in Garissa are celebrating one year of transformative achievement that saw the facility conduct the first-ever surgeries, increase revenues from Sh46,000 to Sh3.2 million and improve on skilled deliveries that reduced risks for mothers.

"From an empty, non-functional building, abandoned and silent, today, together with the community, we are celebrating that in six months, our theatre has come alive, conducting 30 major general surgeries, 43 caesarean sections, 70 minor procedure and a staggering 377 cataract surgeries with 100 per cent safe outcomes," said Dr Abdi Musa Kune, the hospital’s medical superintendent, during the celebration ceremony.

Locals, who relentlessly advocated for access to quality healthcare and initially travelled 300 kilometres to seek surgery services at the Garissa County Referral Hospital, had a reason to smile and celebrate the rare moment with the hospital staff.

As one of the first few medical doctors to serve in Modogashe, Dr Abdi narrated the sorry status of the facility he was told to manage as he reported for duty.

"When I came to this facility, what stood in front of me was a brick wall, beautifully painted from the outside, but, alas, the inside was synonymous with despair and dysfunction. The theatre was a silent shell; the maternity wing echoed with emptiness," he recalled.

Supportive community

He appreciated the supportive community members, the county administration and clinical officers, nurses and support staff who serve under him.

"Together, we have rewritten the story of this hospital. From whispers of closure, we now hear songs of success. From the shadow of neglect, we now shine brightly, not just in Garissa County but in the neighbouring counties," he said in his moving speech.

The medical superintendent narrated how the facility has now become a beacon of hope for communities from the neighbouring Wajir and Isiolo counties, who prefer to seek medical help there due to the long distances involved in accessing their county referral hospitals.

He further explained that several specialist outreaches have been conducted outside the facility.

"We conducted four elective caesarean sections, and eight major general surgeries, including a sub-total thyroidectomy. All of them were in the long waiting list of the Garissa County Referral Hospital," said Abdi.

Need for standby generator

He called for support for a standby generator for use in the theatre, a well-equipped laboratory, renovation of the hospital’s administration block and increasing its bed capacity from 18 to 32.

Siyat Noor Issack, a community leader who spoke on behalf of locals, said both the community and hospital staff had a reason to celebrate the one-year achievement that resuscitated an ailing healthcare sector in Modogashe.

"After a prolonged period of despair and suffering, today we are rejoicing over a historic achievement. It is the first time we are celebrating such an achievement. We have endured the pains of staring at an empty building with no provision of healthcare services, forcing us to travel with our patients to Garissa Referral Hospital, which is far," he said.

Other Topics To Read

• Northern Kenya
• Garissa
• healthcare
• Garissa County Referral Hospital
• Madogashe Sub-County Hospital
• Dr Abdi Musa Kune
• From silence to success: Modogashe Hospital celebrates year of life-saving transformations
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"When the medical superintendent was posted here, we had a crisis meeting on how to breathe life to a collapsing facility; we all played our role as stakeholders and, thanks to God, we are celebrating the achievements made in the one-year journey," he added.

Universal healthcare

Fowzia Abdullahi Sigat equally expressed her joy at the achievements made to improve access to universal healthcare for the Modogashe community and the neighbouring counties.

"As mothers, we have a reason to celebrate. Seeking surgeries at the Garissa Referral Hospital, about 300km away, while in labour pain due to delivery complications, was our past pain and stressful moments," she said.

She urged all stakeholders to maintain the momentum to celebrate more achievements in the future.

Garissa County Executive Committee Member for Health and Sanitation Ahmednadhir Omar, who was the chief guest during the celebrations held in Madogashe town, said the progress made is not only commendable but truly remarkable.

He highlighted how the hospital was becoming a beacon, a model and an emerging centre of excellence.

"At the heart of this transformation is a man whose leadership, I must say, is nothing short of inspiring and exemplary – Dr Abdi Musa Kune. Under his stewardship, he has made the facility vibrant with purpose and progress. Dr Abdi Musa, you have gone beyond managing this hospital, you reshaped it, reengineered it and redefined it and placed it firmly on the trajectory of what excellence should look like in a public health facility," he stated.

The Health executive equally applauded the entire health team and members of the community for their collective teamwork.

He emphasised how the increased skilled deliveries from an average of 16 to over 50 per month, and 43 caesarean sections that were successfully conducted, define restoration of hope, safety, trust and dignity for mothers.

"Each safe delivery is a promise fulfilled, a mother returning home with a heartbeat in her arms and hope in her eyes," said Ahmednadhir.

He encouraged the local community, who were in relentless pursuit of quality health services, to continue supporting the health workers.