KISUMU, 12th Nov. 2026 -Hundreds of Kisumu West residents have benefited from a free medical camp organised by the Commonwealth College of Medical and Related Studies, located in the Ongalo area.
The outreach, which coincided with the institution’s celebration of a decade of quality medical training, offered services including blood donation, general consultation, genotype testing, malnutrition management, ultrasound, diabetic nutrition counselling, vital checks (blood pressure and blood sugar), and tree planting.
Speaking during the event, County Executive Committee Member for Health (CECM), Dr Gregory Ganda, said the free medical camp had given the department a chance to interact with wananchi and address myths and misconceptions about SHA and SHIF.
“In terms of preventive and promotive health, we have seen very big interest in sickle cell and health education, and people got the opportunity to receive treatment. We are happy with the turnout, and we answered most of their questions,” Dr Ganda said.
He noted that the cadre of students who graduate from Commonwealth annually are much needed in most health facilities, as they assist in areas such as peri-operative theatre technology, orthopaedic and trauma medicine, medical engineering, ophthalmic technology, community health and development, counselling psychology, and emergency medical services (dispatchers), among others.
“When they are not there, there is always a gap. They are so good that we have even employed some of them to assist our nurses. They are specialised in areas such as urology, chest or abdominal surgery. That cadre of people is important because you have people who can be relied on at all times,” he said.
He recalled that when US medical funding was withdrawn, the rate of HIV infection recorded an upward trajectory through mother-to-child transmission because the people who were counselling mentor mothers were rendered jobless.
“It is high time we recognise these cadres as a key cog in the wheel of healthcare, and they need to be incorporated into government cadres because they have been recognised elsewhere,” he said.
“But they have not been given the correct cadre names. You can’t place them under EMTs, and yet they are there in government. We have to think of putting them into the system, like under Community Health Workers,” he added.
Dr Ganda supported the institution’s quest to impact the lives of young boys and girls in the communities.
He further urged residents to register en masse for SHA, terming it a game-changer in safeguarding lives once an individual is registered.
“The Primary Healthcare Fund offers free treatment and drugs in government health facilities, and SHIF is for secondary care when you are admitted to hospital for CT scans, operations, among others,” Dr Ganda clarified, adding that the situation might be different in private hospitals in terms of costing.
He urged the college to keep investing in skills laboratories, simulations and strong clinical placements.
“Maintain close engagements with TVETA, KNEC and regulatory bodies so that every certificate or award can be recognised and every graduate can be licensed and employed,” Dr Ganda emphasised.
He noted that President William Ruto has promised to allocate some money in the 2027 health budget to cushion indigents who cannot pay SHA.
On her part, the college’s CEO, Olivia Akoth Odero, said the institution had been at the forefront of positively impacting lives economically and socially through offering medical education.
“Today, we have graduated for eight years, and every student and family has a story to tell. This is our achievement because they will be able to put food on their table through a student who studied at Commonwealth,” she said.
Their joy, she added, has not only been through impacting lives locally, but also internationally, as some of their students have gone abroad to offer healthcare services.
To commemorate the event, one of the day’s highlights included a 5km walk procession from Obambo Centre to the institution, and several participants planted trees.
The free medical camp saw beneficiaries, such as Mzee Nicholas Opiyo Sweta, laud the initiative, saying it went a long way toward addressing their personal health needs.
“We received free drugs; they educated us on how we can live with sickle cell and the benefits of having SHA. The institution also admits students who attained low KCSE grades to become better people in society,” Sweta noted.
Eunice Auma Aguko said: “As a childless widow, I have been having a knee problem, and I am glad I got assistance.”
