Kenyan County Leader Lauds “spirit of collaboration” at Launch of Catholic Health Facility

He acknowledged with appreciation the “unwavering support” that the Catholic Church is offering to the people of God in Baringo County, saying the support is “a solid contribution to a healthier, more prosperous future.”

Making reference to efforts towards improving ordinary people’s livelihoods, Mr. Maiyo said that the Catholic Church and Baringo County “share a common vision”.

“I urge us to remain united in our commitment to service,” he said during the June 6 event, and added, “Let us continue to build bridges, forge partnerships, and create a brighter future for healthcare. Together we can make a lasting impact on the lives of countless individuals and communities.”

Also speaking during the June 6 launch of the Good Samaritan Catholic Mission Hospital Tangulbei, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Kacheliba Constituency in West Pokot lauded the Catholic Church for spearheading “a lot of development”.

Hon. Titus Lotee. Credit: ACI Africa

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“The Catholic Church has done a lot of development across this country, across the globe,” Titus Lotee said, adding that much of the initiatives in health and education sectors have been realized “without demanding contributions” from the primary beneficiaries. 

Mr. Lotee said, “The developmental projects we are seeing have been done by the Catholic Church. The government did not set up basic infrastructure from the beginning.”

The Good Samaritan Catholic Mission Hospital Tangulbei started in 1995 as Tangulbei Divisional Medical Programme (TDMP), the health facility that was named the best Dispensary in Kenya in the “Health Systems Strengthening Awards”.

Feted for working against all odds to serve the Pokot community who inhabit the vast scorched region of the Rift Valley Province in Kenya, TDMP received the award on March 31 at Safari Park Hotel in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi.

“I feel very excited. All the staff at our Dispensary who work in the most difficult conditions are elated at this recognition. It shows that our efforts are being recognized in this place that remains hidden from the rest of the country,” Fr. Maxwell Atugba, the Catholic Priest who oversees the Catholic Mission told ACI Africa in an exclusive interview.

“This award puts us on the global map and more partners are likely to come on board to help us grow,” the Ghanaian-born Spiritan Priest said during the April 3 interview about the awards that were organized by the Mission for Essential Drugs and Supplies (MEDS), a partnership of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) and Christian Health Association of Kenya (CHAK).

Meanwhile, Br. Sebastian Oteng’elo who has served as a nurse at TDMP highlighted as gaps at the newly launched Good Samaritan Catholic Mission Hospital Tangulbei, and appealed for more partnerships.

In an exclusive interview with ACI Africa on the sidelines of the June 6 event, the member of the Brothers of St. Joseph (BSJ) said, “We have a theater, medical officer, anesthetist, and biochemistry analyst, but we need an ultrasound to be used before going for an operation.”

“There are times we run out of drugs, not because we have sold them, but because we have given them to patients who cannot pay,” Br. Oteng’ele further said, and added, “We have only one medical officer and an anesthetist, and three nurses. Sometimes one person has to do the night and daytime shifts. We are understaffed because of finances.”

The Religious Brother who has been serving at the health facility for the last 10 years continued, "If anyone can come in and help, we will be able to do a lot about staffing and the drugs."

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