By Reporter
The Kilifi county Government through the Department of Health and Sanitation Services has launched a fully equipped modern Radiology Unit.
The new Radiology Unit aims to provide a wide range of radiology services and reduce cost and travel time for the patients significantly increasing access to specialized diagnostic services for the residents of Kilifi County.
This development is expected to enhance the quality of healthcare services by offering much-needed diagnostic capabilities and cheaper services.
The new unit is the 64-slice Computed Tomography (CT scanner), which produces real-time graphic diagnosis images.
Compared to the 16-slice CT scanners available in private hospitals, which often produce unclear images, forcing patients to repeat the process.
Speaking during the official launch of the Radiology Unit at The Kilifi County Referral Hospital, the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Health Peter Mwarogo said the new machine has the capability to attend to more than 30 patients in a day.
Since it started operating a week ago, more than 200 patients from Kilifi, Tana River and Lamu counties have already benefited from it’s services.
“In our private hospitals CT scan are costing between Ksh 9,900 and 11,000 and the machines are 16- slice which don’t produce clear images and our services will cost Ksh 5,700 with the new unit additionally those who have registered to SHA will get the services for free,” said Mwarogo.
Kilifi County Governor Gideon Mung’aro has committed to equipping all the level 4 hospitals in Malindi, Mariakani, Marafa, and Mtwapa with CT scan machines to reduce the distance patients travel to seek radiology services.
Mohammed Said, a resident of Kilifi County, shared his relief at the new unit’s availability.
“We used to travel long distances either to Malindi or Mombasa for the CT scan, spending a lot on fare, only to wait until the next day for the scan and pay Ks11,000 but the unit at this hospital is going to be very helpful.” he said.
MP Kilifi North Owen said that radiology services will be able to detect disease hence reducing the mortality rate for both adults and children.
