By Arnold Ageta
Nyamira Governor Amos Nyaribo has launched 10 new dialysis machines at the Nyamira Referral Hospital as part of his ongoing efforts to revamp the county’s health sector and provide quality medical services.
Governor Nyaribo stated that this launch marks the first phase of acquiring dialysis equipment for the 2025/2026 financial year.
“The second phase will be implemented in the 2026/2027 financial year, where we have budgeted for 30 more dialysis machines. Out of these, Nyamira Referral Hospital will get an additional 10 machines, while Keroka and Ekerenyo sub-county hospitals will receive 10 each,” he revealed.
Speaking during the launch, the Governor noted that the procurement process for the 30 phase-two machines is already at an advanced stage and they will be delivered soon.
“Later on, we will procure another 10 machines for Nyansiongo Sub-county Hospital to bring renal services closer to the people and ease congestion at the Referral Hospital,” Nyaribo added.
The Governor acknowledged that many renal patients have been struggling to access care, with some forced to arrive at the hospital as early as 4:00 AM and others leaving as late as 9:00 PM.
He encouraged residents with kidney challenges to fully utilize the enhanced services now available at Nyamira Referral Hospital.
Once all phases are complete, the Referral Hospital will house a total of 23 dialysis machines, while Masaba Level 4 Sub-county Hospital and Ekerenyo Sub-county Hospital will each have 10 machines.
With the addition of the 10 new machines, Nyamira Referral Hospital’s capacity has increased to 13 functional machines, allowing the facility to conduct 26 dialysis sessions per day.
To improve the patient experience, the Renal Unit has also been relocated from the general wards to the new, more spacious Doctors Plaza.
The new location features a dedicated nursing station and other essential amenities.
“Don’t lose hope as you come for dialysis. This procedure can prolong your life as you seek paths toward a kidney transplant,” Governor Nyaribo told renal patients present at the facility.
Moving forward, the Governor stated that his administration’s focus is to adequately stock the renal unit with dialysis reagents and employ more medical staff to meet patient demand and sustain quality service delivery.
Renal patients who spoke during the event thanked the Governor for expanding the unit, noting that it would significantly reduce waiting times.
Mr. Joseph Omwando, a renal patient, expressed immense relief at the prospect of shorter queues.
“We have been struggling to get to the hospital by 4:00 AM because there were too few machines for the high number of patients,” Omwando said. He also praised the Renal Unit’s medical staff for their excellent care.
“To be honest, the hospital is much cleaner than before and service delivery has improved significantly. I ask anyone who doubts this to visit the hospital and see for themselves.”
Dr. Jared Oeba, the County Director of Medical Services, added that the County Government has finalized the training of two renal clinicians to ensure patients receive specialized care.
“With sufficient machines and modern equipment, Nyamira’s Renal Unit is poised to become a beacon of hope for kidney patients across the region,” Dr. Oeba concluded.
