Kiambu Adds Three More Dental Units To Reach More People.

In its bid to ensure that that the residents of Kiambu County continue accessing good services and quality healthcare, Kiambu Government has added three more dental units in Githunguri, Wangige and Karuri Sub-Counties.

This is in addition to the fully functional units at Thika Level 5 Hospital, Kiambu, Gatundu, Tigoni and Kihara Level 4 Hospitals.

Kiambu Director of Preventive Health Services Dr. Mutile Wanyee revealed this when addressed parents and pupils of Kuraiha Primary School in Witeithie Ward during the World Oral Heath Day commemorated on 18^th March 2016.

She said that due to the efforts they had undertaken, Kiambu County was well covered by dental health services though there were still challenges in terms of health personnel. The county currently has only 2 dental specialists, 14 dentists, 10 Community Oral Health Workers (COHO) and 8 dental technologists.

Kiambu County’s Strategic Plan, she said, included goals to ensure residents always stayed healthy, with a focus on preventing illness through improving their lifestyles. There were plans to further invest in other major health services, promoting healthy lifestyles and illness prevention through new and advanced technologies to make Kiambu County the best place for health professionals to work in.

“While we can change the way our hospitals provide services and re-model our system to improve it, so much of this plan is based on our community making its own healthy choices. Healthier lifestyles can reduce diseases and the need for health services – prevention is always better than cure,” she said.

She added that the commonest oral diseases in the county were Dental Caries and Periodontal (gum) Disease. 

So far, Kiambu has handled 87,743 dental patients, of whom 8,161 underwent filling, 37,975 extractions while 41,607 underwent other dental related conditions.

“Keeping our people healthy and caring for them when they are ill is our priority. We have been working to improve our health care system – making it more efficient so it can continue to deliver good services to all our people. We have a highly regarded public health system. Our hospitals provide very good care and our staff are dedicated and professional,” she said.

Kiambu Government will continue to allocate more money to be used in supporting the implementation of the priority disease prevention control strategies which include coordination, advocacy, surveillance, case management, communication, social mobilisation and procurement of essential medical supplies.

Present at the meeting were Dr. Jackson Kioko who is the Director of Medical Services, members of staff of Colgate Palmolive Company and Broadway Bakeries, teachers and parents of Kuraiha Primary School.