In a significant step towards better healthcare for rural communities, the County Government of Uasin Gishu is finalising preparations to open Baraka Dispensary in Kipsomba Ward, Soy Sub-County.

The facility is poised to offer primary healthcare services closer to home, easing the burden of long-distance travel for thousands of residents who have long relied on distant facilities for even basic medical attention.

County Executive Committee Member for Health Services Janet Kurgat and Chief Officer for Promotive and Preventive Health Dr Billy Lubanga met with committee members to review the dispensary’s readiness.

The Tuesday site visit meeting focused on the infrastructure, staffing, supplies and remaining gaps that must be addressed before the facility can welcome its first patients.

“We are determined that when Baraka Dispensary opens its doors, it will be fully prepared to serve the people of Kipsomba and neighboring areas with quality, reliable care,” said CECM Janet Kurgat.

“This is not just about putting up a building; it is about ensuring mothers, children and every resident can access essential services without hardship,” remarked Kurgat.

Dr Lubanga emphasised the practical difference the facility will make. “Primary healthcare is the foundation of a healthy community. By bringing services closer, we reduce delays in treatment, cut transport costs for families and strengthen early detection and prevention. Baraka Dispensary will play a vital role in that mission.”

Once operational, the dispensary is expected to provide outpatient services, maternal and child health care, immunizations, family planning and treatment for common ailments.

Area residents who travel long distances will now find care nearer home, a change that local leaders hope will encourage more people to seek timely medical attention.

The move forms part of a broader, sustained effort by the county government under Governor Jonathan Bii Chelilim to expand and strengthen health infrastructure.

Under the second pillar of his Nguzo Kumi agenda, which prioritizes accessible, quality and affordable healthcare, the administration has invested heavily in upgrading dispensaries and health centres across Uasin Gishu’s 138 facilities.

The county has renovated and completed several facilities, including upgrades in Kipsomba and surrounding wards, equipped theatres and diagnostic units, and regularly flagged off consignments of essential medicines worth tens of millions of shillings to keep facilities stocked.

Partnerships with development partners have further supported equipment, training and innovative service models, while medical outreach camps continue to take care directly into communities.

These efforts reflect a clear policy direction: healthcare must reach people where they live, with officials noting that well-functioning Level 2 dispensaries like Baraka form the first line of defense, reducing pressure on higher-level hospitals and improving overall health outcomes.

As preparations for Baraka Dispensary advance, county health leaders remain focused on closing any remaining gaps so that the facility can open without delay.

For residents of Kipsomba Ward, the impending opening represents more than a new building—it signals that quality care is steadily moving closer to their doorsteps.

The County Government of Uasin Gishu continues to prioritize investment in health infrastructure and service delivery, guided by the conviction that every resident deserves timely, reliable and affordable healthcare.

by Maurice Aluda