Health Services
The Garissa County Government’s Health Department is charged with the responsibility of ensuring that the people of Garissa have access to quality, innovative, cost-friendly, and dignified health services that improve the wellbeing of the population. To improve the overall livelihoods of citizen, the Garissa County aims to provide an efficient integrated and high-quality affordable health care system. Priority will be given to preventive care at community and household level, through a strengthen health-care system.
The Health Sector is one of the central pillars of the equity and socio-economic development. It is the key sector that contributes to the well-functioning of other sectors in the County through a healthy population. Health is at the heart of development and is a key indicator on social welfare. Whereas improvement in health is important, better health is also a prerequisite for economic growth and social cohesion. The County is served by the Garissa County Referral hospital, a 7 sub-County hospital, 56 dispensaries, 21 health centre and 123 private Clinic and Nursing homes. The County also hosts the biggest refugee complex in Dadaab that is served by 3 hospitals and 8 health post.
Vision: A healthy and productive county
Mission: To provide quality, accessible, and affordable health care services that is innovative and culturally acceptable to the people of Garissa County.
Goal: To reduce illnesses, disabilities, and exposure to risk factors through evidence-based interventions and best practices
Mandate of the Department
To provide health services, create an enabling environment, regulate, set standards and policy for health service delivery. The key mandate of County government includes:
- County health facilities and pharmacies.
- Ambulance services.
- Promotion of primary health care.
- Licensing &control of undertakings that sell food to the public.
- Veterinary services (excluding regulation of the profession).
- Cemeteries, funeral parlours and crematoria; and
- Refuse removal, refuse dumps and solid waste disposal.
Organization of Healthcare Service Delivery System
- Tier 1- Community units
- Tier 2- Primary Care Facilities (Health Centres and Dispensaries)
- Tier 3- Secondary referral (County Hospitals)
- Tier 4- Tertiary Referral (National Referral Hospitals)
Key Objectives
- Eliminate and control communicable conditions.
- Halt and reverse increasing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
- Reduce the burden of violence and injuries.
- Provide essential health services to Garissa County citizens.
- Minimize exposure to health risk factors.
- Strengthen collaboration with health-related sectors.
Mandate of the Department
- County health facilities and pharmacies.
- Ambulance services.
- Promotion of primary health care.
- Licensing &control of undertakings that sell food to the public.
- Veterinary services (excluding regulation of the profession).
- Cemeteries, funeral parlours, and crematoria; and
- Refuse removal, refuse dumps and solid waste disposal.
Investment Areas
- Organization of service delivery
- Health leadership and governance
- Health workforce
- Health financing
- Health products and Technology
- Health information
- Health infrastructure
- Research and development
Sector Priorities and Strategies:
The main objectives of the health department policy are the elimination of communicable diseases, halting and reversing the rising burden on non-communicable diseases and mental disorders, reducing the burden of violence and injuries, providing essential primary healthcare, minimizing exposure to risk factors for health conditions and strengthening universal health coverage among its population. The sector will have to complete all uncompleted projects, equip health facilities, and continue supply of health products and commodities. Investment will also be made on human resources recruitment, capacity building and timely maternal referral. The sector will continue support and fund disease surveillance, nutrition, HIV/AID, TB and Malaria interventions that is currently mainly funded by health partners to achieve the overall objectives and strategies of the health sector.
Garissa County Headquarters
Mon – Fri: 8:00 am – 4:00 pm