Health Services
Dr. Francis Gwama Wa Mwatsahu, PhD
C.E.C.M - Health Services
Dr.Francis Gwama Wa Mwatsahu, Ph.D. is the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for the Health Services Department a post he has held since 2017. He is a Ph.D. Holder in Public health and a Master’s degree in Health Systems Management. He has several publications in the Health space with an interest in strengthening Health Systems Management of healthcare services for improved access to primary healthcare services.
He is passionate about building partnerships with diverse organizations in advancing quality in healthcare service delivery, learning, clinical teaching as well as research.
Gwama has over 21 years of experience in Health Systems Management, clinical teaching,
and research at Hospitals, Rural Health Facilities, and Higher Education Institutions and has published widely in peer-reviewed journals. He has vast experience in managing projects, budget implementation, and creating linkages to strengthen healthcare services delivery, training curricula, and teaching faculty development.
Gwama has been involved in organizational development for civil society organizations and capacity building through research, training, and mentoring. Gwama has excellent skills in carrying out health operational research, writing grant applications, writing health policy briefs, and knowledge management.
His career in public service began in 2002 as a Nursing Officer in the Ministry of Health and was posted to several stations within the Country.
Athuman Hamisi Mwashando
Chief Officer - Preventive Health Services
Athumani Hamisi Mwashando is a Chief Officer of Health- Preventive and Public Health. He is a Medical Laboratory Officer by profession. Mwashando joined County Government of Kwale in 2013 as a Ward Administrator. He worked in that position until 13thapril 2023, when he was promoted to be the Chief Officer. Before joining the County Government of Kwale, he worked at the University of Nairobi as a Medical Laboratory Technologist for 5 years.
Dr. Kitsao Mjimba Kalume
Chief Officer - Curative & Rehabilitative Health
Dr. Kitsao Mjimba Kalume is a Medical Officer by profession.
Dr. Mjimba joined the County Government of Kwale in 2018 as a Medical Officer and was posted to Kinango Sub-County Hospital. Between 2018 and April 2023, he was the Medical Superintendent in charge of Kinango Sub-County Hospital. During his tenure he spearheaded the expansion of specialized diagnostic services in the Sub-County Hospital.
Among his achievements is the operationalization of CT Scan machine which has led to reduced cases of inter and intra county referrals.
On 11th April, 2023, Dr. Mjimba was appointed the Chief Officer Health Services (Curative and Rehabilitative). He holds a Bachelor of Medicine & Surgery Degree from Tianjin Medical University – China and is an alumnus of Kwale High School.
Contact: kmjimba@ict.kwale.go.ke
Our Vision
A responsive and efficient health care system in Kwale County
Our Mission
To provide quality, acceptable and affordable health care services for sustainable development.
Our Core Functions/ Mandate
HEALTH CARE SERVICES
— 01
Access to Healthcare
The County has a total of three (3) government hospitals, eight health centres and sixty- four (64) dispensaries located in Msambweni, Kwale and Kinango constituencies. The doctor and nurse population ratio stands at 1: 76,741 and 1: 3,133 respectively. In addition, the county has two (2) private hospitals both located in Diani town. The average distance to the nearest health facility within the County is seven (7) kilometres as compared to the required maximum of three (3) kilometers.
— 02
Morbidity
The five most common diseases as recorded in the health facilities within the county are Malaria, Diarrhoea, Flu, Respiratory diseases and Stomach- ache with a prevalence rate of 37.7, 4.6, 16.4, 5, and 3.1 per cent respectively. These diseases highly contribute to the morbidity in the county which stands at 22.5 per cent. This calls for tailor – made interventions to address this health challenge in the community.
— 03
Nutritional Status
Nutritional status in the county is very low especially in the arid and semi-arid areas of the county. The predominant form of manifestation of malnutrition in the county are stunting, underweight and acute malnutrition accounting for the percentages 35, 21 and 6 respectively.
— 05
Immunization Coverage
Immunization against preventable diseases is key to ensuring a healthy future human resource generation. Immunization coverage in the county stands at 77 per cent of thechildren under one year compared to the national target of 85 per cent.
— 06
Access to Family Planning Services/Contraceptive Prevalence
Family planning (FP)/contraceptive use for the fertile generation of between 15- 49 years is still very low in the County recorded at 38 per cent. In order to realize improvement in contraceptive usage, more health facilities need to be established in addition to up scaling of the services in the existing facilities. This will improve on the access for those services at the health facilities and reducing the average distance to a health facility which currently stand at seven kilometers.