By Habil Onyango
Homa Bay County Chief Officer in charge of health, Dr Kevin Osuri, has urged residents to seek early diagnosis to prevent minor health complications from escalating.
Dr Osuri noted that there is currently a high prevalence of non-communicable diseases, many of which can be prevented through regular check-ups.
“It is unfortunate that even minors are now being diagnosed with diseases that were previously thought to affect only the elderly,” he said.
“I want to urge our people to routinely seek early diagnosis at our various health facilities,” added Dr Osuri.
According to him, early diagnosis is crucial for improving health outcomes, allowing for timely intervention, better treatment success, higher survival rates, and an overall improved quality of life.
“When diseases are detected early, treatments are often more effective and less invasive. Early intervention can prevent diseases from advancing to more severe stages and minimise damage to vital organs,” he stated.
“It also enables prompt medical attention, increasing the chances of positive health outcomes and recovery,” he added.
“There is a rising prevalence of non-communicable diseases, particularly among the younger population. It is now common to find young children diagnosed with diabetes or hypertension—conditions that can largely be prevented through early diagnosis,” said the medic.
Dr Osuri, however, admitted that the county has faced challenges in supporting Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) due to delays in the disbursement of devolved funds. He, however, expressed gratitude to Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) for their continued support during these challenging times.
“We have had difficulties in addressing CHV payments due to delays in exchequer disbursements. However, I would like to thank MSF for their significant support in healthcare matters,” he said.
Dr Osuri was speaking at Nyalkinyi Health Centre, where he led other county government officials in the distribution of Sh50 million worth of pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical drugs to all Level 2 and 3 health facilities across the county. The distribution was carried out through the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) using the last-mile distribution model.
According to Dr Osuri, this initiative aims to eliminate any potential pilferage during the distribution process.
“The County Government of Homa Bay has successfully procured and distributed pharmaceuticals and non-pharmaceuticals worth Sh50 million to all Level 2 and 3 health facilities within the county,” he stated.
“Utilising the last-mile distribution model, the national medical supplier, KEMSA, has directly delivered essential medical supplies to health facilities, ensuring a prompt and secure distribution process,” he added.
Dr Osuri was accompanied by the Director of Health, Dr Gordon Okomo, among other county officials.
