Curtains fall for the 1st Nairobi Health Conference with Bold Commitments to Transform Healthcare.
From nairobi.go.ke
The inaugural 1st Nairobi Health Conference officially launched by the Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya, H.E. Kithure Kindiki hosted by the Governor Nairobi City County Sakaja Johnson concluded successfully, bringing together key stakeholders in the health sector to address pressing challenges and outline strategic solutions. The event featured critical engagements between the County alongside health professionals, partners, and policymakers.
County Executive for Health Wellness and Nutrition Suzanne Silantoi emphasized the county’s commitment to improving health services, highlighting the conference as a vital platform for fostering collaboration and innovation. “This conference marks the beginning of a transformative journey in ensuring equitable and quality healthcare for all Nairobi residents,” she stated.
Chief Officer Dr. Irene Muchoki echoed these sentiments, outlining actionable steps to implement the resolutions reached. They reaffirmed their dedication to improving primary healthcare, scaling up resources, and strengthening partnerships to achieve sustainable health outcomes.
Dr. Muchoki also shared key areas highlighted during the conference
- Primary Healthcare Strengthening
- Emphasis on improving access to affordable, quality healthcare at the grassroots level.
- Plans to enhance community health services and infrastructure.
- Resource Allocation and Capacity Building
- Commitment to increasing funding for healthcare projects and staff training.
- Focus on equipping health facilities with modern technology and essential supplies.
- Partnerships and Multi-Sectoral Collaboration
- Strengthening partnerships with private sector players, NGOs, and development partners.
- Promoting synergies across sectors to address public health challenges such as sanitation and nutrition.
- Policy Development and Implementation
- Finalizing and implementing health policies aligned with Nairobi’s long-term strategic goals.
- Creating accountability frameworks to monitor progress and impact.
- Innovation in Healthcare Delivery
- Adoption of digital health solutions to improve efficiency and accessibility.
- Exploration of innovative financing models to ensure sustainability.
“This conference marks a crucial step in our journey to establish a healthcare system that serves every Nairobi resident with equity, resilience, and sustainability. “As the County Chief Officer for Medical Services, I am privileged to emphasize the critical role of research in driving sustainable healthcare improvements and to highlight the significance of this inaugural Nairobi County Health Scientific Conference.”
She said that the concept and vision for this first health scientific conference emerged as a solution-focused initiative. “For a long time, we have generated substantial data within the County, yet we have often missed opportunities to use it effectively in decision-making. It felt both timely and essential to spearhead this scientific conference as a significant step toward utilizing data for action.”
By bringing together researchers, healthcare providers, policymakers, and other stakeholders, we aim to foster a collaborative environment that promotes the regular use of data to guide health interventions. This conference creates a platform for exchanging knowledge and best practices, enhancing our understanding of public health issues within our County.
In recent years, Nairobi County has made significant strides in healthcare, despite the many challenges we face. Our county’s population exceeds 5 million people and includes some of Kenya’s most vulnerable communities. Nearly 47% of Nairobi residents live in informal settlements where healthcare access is hindered by factors such as affordability, distance, and shortages of healthcare personnel.
“We are working to change this reality, and I am proud of the progress we have made, so far including: Significant Improvements in Maternal and Child Health Outcomes, Robust Resource Mobilization, Promotion and Advancement of Primary Healthcare Access through Primary Care Networks among many more important healthcare improvements.” Said Dr. Muchoki.
Closing the Conference on behalf of the CECM, Dr. Irene Muchoki said the conference emphasized the importance of multi-sectoral collaboration, with participants calling for sustained dialogue and accountability. It concluded with a roadmap for the implementation of policies and initiatives discussed during the three-day event.
Key speakers for the event included our very own chief officers, Hibrahim Otieno, Health Facilities, Tom Nyakaba, Public Health among other health professionals who made contributions that will go a long way towards improving health services in Nairobi County and the country as a whole.
