County Government of Homa Bay-Department of Health Services

14/08/2026

The County Department of Public Health and Medical Services, in partnership with Helfie AI, has developed a work plan ahead of the rollout of a pilot digital health screening intervention that will explore how Artificial Intelligence can support early screening and diagnostics—particularly for infectious tuberculosis.

The innovation uses machine learning to analyse the unique signature of a person’s cough and identify the probability of TB, providing a screening signal rather than a diagnosis. Importantly, presumptive cases generated through the technology will feed into the County’s existing clinical pathways, ensuring that technology complements healthcare providers and that suspected cases receive appropriate confirmatory testing and care.

As Homa Bay advances this innovation, the partners are working towards establishing an implementation task force, securing County Research Committee approval, developing and signing an MOU, engaging communities on adoption, and exploring how the intervention can ultimately integrate with existing Health Information Systems. The experience from the pilot will inform a framework for scale-up and full implementation.

13/08/2026

H.E. Governor Gladys Wanga has launched the Kenya Presbyopia Programme in Homa Bay, a transformative primary eye care initiative targeting the distribution of 10,000 pairs of reading glasses to residents across the county.

The programme is demedicalising access to reading glasses by bringing basic eye care closer to communities. With Community Health Promoters (CHPs) trained to identify and appropriately refer people with vision challenges, and healthcare workers equipped to diagnose and prescribe glasses, eye care is being integrated into community and primary healthcare services.

The initiative will be rolled out across health centres, dispensaries and community outreaches, ensuring that residents can access essential eye care closer to where they live.

The County Government Of Homa Bay is implementing the programme in collaboration with Lwala Community Alliance, Livelihood Impact Fund, The Fred Hollows Foundation, The Kenya Society for the Blind, The Ministry of Health and the Council of Governors-Kenya.

10/08/2026

The County Government Of Homa Bay is exploring a new frontier in healthcare through a partnership with Helfie International to assess the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in chronic disease diagnosis and other health interventions.

Led by CECM Hon. Grace Osewe, the County Department of Public Health and Medical Services held an inception meeting with Helfie International to explore how AI can improve access to care, save time, reduce healthcare costs and enhance service delivery.

The innovation will be piloted in selected sub-counties as stakeholder engagements and preparations continue.

07/08/2026

Through a partnership with Bright Dada CBO, the County Government of Homa Bay is transforming lighting in health facilities through the installation of energy-efficient LED lighting—creating better-lit environments for patients and healthcare workers.

From maternal and newborn care to night-time procedures and emergency response, reliable lighting is an essential part of quality healthcare.

The intervention is enhancing visibility, strengthening safety, reducing energy consumption and creating more conducive spaces for the delivery of care.

We appreciate Bright Dada CBO for partnering with the County Government to make this intervention possible and for supporting our efforts to build stronger, safer and more patient-centred health facilities.

07/08/2026

The County Government of Homa Bay, in partnership with the Shikuri Project, is running a special Sickle Cell Clinic where children living with sickle cell disease and enrolled in the program receive pneumococcal vaccines —a critical intervention that protects them from life-threatening bacterial infections such as pneumonia, meningitis and bloodstream infections.

Children with sickle cell disease are at a much higher risk of severe pneumococcal infections due to reduced spleen function. Vaccination, alongside early diagnosis, routine clinical care, hydroxyurea therapy and caregiver education, forms an essential package of comprehensive sickle cell care.

This important initiative was made possible through the generous donation of pneumococcal vaccines by Dr. Babette Weksler, Board Member of the Shikuri Project, whose support is helping strengthen preventive healthcare for children living with sickle cell disease in Homa Bay.

Our partnerships continue to improve health outcomes, prevent avoidable illness and give every child the opportunity to live a healthier future.

06/08/2026

The County Department of Public Health and Medical Services today conducted an Integrated Health Outreach, bringing essential preventive and curative services closer to the community.

Residents benefited from a wide range of services, including cervical cancer screening, HPV vaccination, HIV testing, primary eye care and vision screening, SHA registration, and referrals for specialized care where necessary.

The outreach was made possible through collaboration with the Aga Khan East Africa Comprehensive Cancer Project and Voice of Salvation Church, reaffirming the County Government's commitment to expanding access to quality, affordable, and people-centred healthcare services for all.

06/08/2026

The County Department of Public Health and Medical Services convened Stakeholders implementing the SAFIRE Programme for a semi-annual review meeting to assess progress, identify challenges, and strengthen collaboration in the delivery of reproductive health services across Homa Bay County.

The programme, implemented in partnership with Kmet Kenya, brought together Community Health Promoters (CHPs), Community Health Assistants (CHAs), pharmacists and chemists, private clinics serving as referral points, Sub-County Reproductive Health Coordinators, and Key Youth Populations (KYPs).

The review focused on enhancing synergy among all actors to ensure a coordinated approach to service delivery. Participants emphasized the need to strengthen reporting tools and improve data quality to support evidence-based planning, budgeting, and decision-making.

The meeting also highlighted the absence of clear policy guidelines as a challenge affecting implementation and called for the development of frameworks to guide service provision and coordination.

Discussions further underscored the importance of expanding access to quality Post-Abortion Care (PAC) and Comprehensive Abortion Care (CAC) services, delivered in accordance with Kenya's legal and policy framework, to improve reproductive health outcomes and reduce preventable maternal morbidity and mortality.

The stakeholders reaffirmed their commitment to continued collaboration, data-driven programming, and strengthening referral systems to ensure timely, accessible, and quality reproductive health services for the people of Homa Bay County.

06/08/2026

05/08/2026

The County Government of Homa Bay has today signed a landmark Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with the Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO), reaffirming its commitment to strengthening the health workforce through dialogue and mutual respect.

Despite operating within a constrained fiscal space, the County Government remains committed to honouring the agreement while progressively addressing key concerns, including recruitment, appointment, deployment, onboarding, salary and allowance arrears, promotions and redesignations, remittance of statutory deductions and implementation of career progression guidelines among others.

The County Government further reiterates its commitment to sustained engagement with the Clinical Officers' leadership and other relevant stakeholders to amicably resolve emerging issues and safeguard uninterrupted, quality healthcare services for the people of Homa Bay.

The signed CBA will now be forwarded to the Council of Governors (CoG) for onward processing, before being lodged with the Labour Court and the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) to pave the way for implementation.

03/08/2026

Too many children remain vulnerable after leaving the hospital—1 in 20 children dies after discharge due to gaps in follow-up care, delayed access to services, and poor continuity of care.

The County Government of Homa Bay is implementing the REConneCteD Project, a three-year program supported by a consortium of partners: Amref Africa, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust, and Lwala Community Alliance, to transform post-discharge care by strengthening the link between health facilities and communities.

County Health Management Team (CHMT) convened an inception meeting bringing together key stakeholders to review baseline findings, identify critical gaps, and co-create strategies that will improve child health outcomes and accelerate progress toward better performance indicators.

This initiative is geared toward building a seamless continuum of care that ensures that every child's recovery goes beyond a hospital discharge.