Health Facilities in Vihiga County.

Hello there! Welcome to this LabFlow article.

Vihiga County is located in Western Kenya.  In the 2022-2027 government, Nicholas Madaga is serving as the Health Minister for Vihiga county. (This is as of November 2022). In the 2017-2022 government, Justus Mwanje held this position. Health Ministers are also known as ‘CEC Member for Health’ or CEC Representative for Health.

CEC stands for County Executive Committee. The committees’ chief executive is the county governor while the deputy chief executive is the deputy county governor. In addition to the health representative, the committee has other representatives (approximately ten in total). They represent other devolved functions listed here. Depending on the county, devolved roles are combined differently.

Vihiga County has 5 Sub-Counties:

In summary, Vihiga County has 144 health facilities spread across the 5 sub-counties. 6.3% of these are faith-based facilities (9) while 52.1% belong to the ministry of health (75). This leaves 2.1% under NGO’s (3) and 39.6% listed as private facilities (57). Kenya has a total of 14,251 health facilities. Therefore, these figures translate to Vihiga County having 1% of the country’s Total Facilities.

Let us look at the numbers in each sub-county.

In Emuhaya sub-county, there are 21 health facilities. This makes up 15% of the health facilities in Vihiga County and 0.15% of the total number in the country.

Emuhaya houses the following 3 Wards: Central Bunyore, North East Bunyore & West Bunyore.

In Hamisi sub-county, there are 49 health facilities. This makes up 34% of the health facilities in Vihiga County and 0.34% of the total number in the country.

Hamisi houses the following 7 Wards: Shiru, Gisambai, Shamakhokho, Banja, Muhudu, Tambua & Jepkoyai.

In Luanda sub-county, there are 22 health facilities. This makes up 15% of the health facilities in Vihiga County and 0.15% of the total number in the country.

Luanda houses the following 5 Wards: Luanda, Luanda South, Mwibona, Wemilaba & Emabungo.

In Sabatia sub-county, there are 25 health facilities. This makes up 17% of the health facilities in Vihiga County and 0.18% of the total number in the country.

Sabatia houses the following 6 Wards: Lyaduywa (Izava), Sabatia West, Chavakali, North Maragoli, Busali & Wodanga.

In Vihiga sub-county, there are 27 health facilities. This makes up 19% of the health facilities in Vihiga County and 0.19% of the total number in the country.

Vihiga houses the following 4 Wards: Mungoma, Maragoli Central, Lugaga-Wamuluma & Maragoli South.

In conclusion,

• There are a total of 25 wards in the 5 sub-counties of Vihiga County. Hamisi sub county has the highest number of wards (7) while Emuhaya has the least (3).
• Hamisi has the highest number (49) of health facilities (34% of Vihiga County & 0.34% of Kenya).
• Sabatia has the highest number of Faith-Based Health Facilities. (Total of 4 out of 9)
• Hamisi has the highest number of Ministry of Health Facilities (Public). (Total of 26 out of 75)
• Hamisi has the highest number of Private Health Facilities. (Total of 19 out of 57)
• Luanda & Sabatia both do not have any NGO Health Facilities while the other 3 sub-county’s have one each.

Thank you for reading this LabFlow article.

All images in this article are courtesy of the rightful owners through Google Images.