Sigh of relief as Homa Bay opens Sh45m CT scan machine

Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga when she offiocailly opened the CT-scan machine at the County Referral Hospital on January 11, 2023. [James Omoro, Standard]

Homa Bay County has officially opened a Computerised Tomography (CT) machine worth Sh45 million.

The machine will play a key role in salvaging the residents the high cost of seeking medical services in other counties.

Governor Gladys Wanga said since time memorial, Homa Bay residents have been to other counties to seek medical services that require CT scan.

While speaking during the official opening of the machine on Wednesday, Wanga said many residents had to travel to Kisumu, Kisii and Bomet counties.

The machine has been installed at Homa Bay County Referral hospital.

Wanga said the installation of the equipment at the facility is aimed at improving health services in the county.

She said lack of a CT scan machine is a problem which had bedeviled residents of the county for many years.

"CT scan services are very significant for patients with complicated illnesses. Homa Bay residents have been forced to travel to other counties due to lack of the equipment. I announce that the equipment is now with us and ready for use," Wanga said.

In what is aimed at enabling many residents to access CT scan services, the Governor announced that the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) will cover the cost.

"CT scan services cost Sh8000 for a patient. But we have made arrangements to ensure NHIF covers them to make medical services accessible," Wanga said.

A CT scan machine combines a series of X-ray images taken from different angles around the body and uses computer processing to create cross-sectional images of the bones, blood vessels and soft tissues inside the body.

CT scan images provide more-detailed information than conventional X-rays.

Residents expressed optimism that the machine is going to cushion them from high cost of transporting patients to hospitals in other counties.

Kennedy Addams, a resident of Karachuonyo Constituency wanted to take his sick mother to Kisii for CT scan.

Due to financial constraints, he had difficulties in moving with his mother to Kisii Level Five hospital.

"My mother is unable to walk due to the problems in her bones. I was expected to take her to Kisii for medication but I had not done so due to shortage of funds. I am grateful that she is going to treated in our county referral hospital," Addams said.

Wanga also opened a new Sh26 million outpatient unit constructed and fully equipped at facility.

She said her desire is to ensure Homa Bay County Referral Hospital is upgraded to level five status.

"Since we came to office 120 days ago, we have managed to purchase the CT scan, we have also ensured renal unit is working. We have equipped the hospital so that it acquires the Level Five status," she said.

She said the key priority of her administration is improvement of health services.

The County Assembly Speaker Julius Gaya said they will co-operate with the county executive to boost services delivery to residents.

"As the county assembly, our priority is to collaborate with the executive to ensure residents get the services they deserve," Gaya said.