Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale Graces Successful Medical and Surgical Camp in Balambala

The Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) Garissa Campus, in collaboration with the County Government of Garissa and partners, organized a three-day medical and surgical camp held from 14th to 16th August 2025 at Balambala Sub-County, Garissa.

The event was graced by the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Hon. Aden Duale, who commended the initiative as a milestone in expanding access to healthcare services.

“This camp demonstrates the power of partnership in delivering quality healthcare and ensuring that communities in remote areas are not left behind,” he said.

Over the three days, 2,611 patients were treated, 72 surgeries were successfully conducted, and 100 pints of blood were donated.

In addition, 2,260 individuals were registered under the Social Health Authority (SHA), while 90 patients were booked for cataract surgery, giving hope for restored vision to many.

During the same occasion, the Cabinet Secretary launched the TaifaCare Health Management Information System (HMIS) digitization program, an important step towards strengthening health information systems for more efficient service delivery.

KMTC lecturers supported surgical teams in critical procedures, while students offered care across different departments under supervision, gaining practical skills while serving the community.

The event was also supported by the National Government, Medical Aid Alliance, Hewatele, Arachis Pharmaceuticals, KMTC, and North Eastern Province College of Health Sciences, the Kenya Red Cross Society, and other partners.

KMTC Equips Pre-retirees Through Pre-Retirement Training

The Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) has kicked off a five-day pre-retirement training programme for staff members preparing to exit service, highlighting the College’s commitment to supporting its employees in planning for life after active duty.

The five-day training, which commenced on Monday, August 25, 2025, in Kisumu, was officially opened by the CEO, Dr. Kelly Oluoch. In his remarks, Dr. Oluoch expressed appreciation to the retirees for their years of dedication and service to the College.

“Since joining KMTC, I have had the privilege of interacting with many of you in different capacities, and those encounters have left lasting memories,” he noted.

On financial preparedness, Dr. Oluoch emphasized the importance of careful planning. “Treat every shilling earned as capital,” he said.

“Invest prudently in dividends, stocks, and bonds. Remember that while your income may reduce with age, your needs will continue to grow.”

He cautioned the participants against unnecessary expenses, urging them to prioritize owning homes and meeting their basic needs.

Turning to health and wellness, the CEO emphasized the importance of adopting a disciplined lifestyle.

“Your health is your true wealth,” he said, adding that: “Schedule regular checkups, make exercise part of your routine, and embrace a balanced diet. Retirement should be enjoyed in good health.”

Dr. Oluoch further reminded the impending retirees that every role at the College has been valuable.

“Whether you served as a lecturer, driver, office assistant, or even supported us through deliveries, your contribution has built KMTC into what it is today. Carry that sense of pride into retirement, and use your experience to mentor others,” he said.

In his closing remarks, he likened retirement to a shared journey. “Life is like a train,” he observed.

“At some point, each of us must alight at our appointed station. When that time comes, do so with dignity, pride, and gratitude. Even outside active service, remain ambassadors of KMTC,” he concluded.

The training demonstrates KMTC’s dedication to ensuring that staff not only serve with distinction during their careers but also transition into retirement with dignity, preparedness, and peace of mind.

The Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) and the Fred Hollows Foundation (FHF) reaffirmed their commitment to the fight against avoidable blindness through a high-level strategic engagement held today (June 12, 2025), at the KMTC Headquarters in Nairobi.

The meeting, which brought together key representatives from both institutions, was led by CEO Dr. Kelly Oluoch and FHF CEO Mr. Ross Piper.

In his remarks, Dr. Oluoch noted that the KMTC FHF collaboration has continued to bear tangible results in strengthening ophthalmic training across the country.

“This partnership has already demonstrated measurable impact in the training of eye care professionals. Today’s meeting serves as a reaffirmation of our shared vision to enhance these efforts through innovation, investment in modern equipment, and strategic collaboration,” he said.

The partnership aims to scale up the training of skilled ophthalmic health workers, equip training campuses with state-of-the-art learning tools, promote research in eye care, and explore the integration of emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) in eye health education.

Mr. Piper, while commending the achievements realized so far, emphasized FHF’s continued commitment to the partnership.

“KMTC remains a critical partner in our mission to end avoidable blindness. We are proud of our progress together and look forward to deepening our collaboration to expand access to quality training and eye care services,” he said.

During the meeting, discussions centered on long-term strategies to expand the reach and effectiveness of ophthalmic training, strengthen human resource capacity for eye health, and support sustainable models for community-based eye care.

The delegation included key officers from KMTC’s academic and resource mobilization departments, representatives from the Ministry of Health’s Ophthalmology Unit, and FHF’s programme and policy experts.

As the team explored the next steps for implementation, the meeting reaffirmed a shared commitment to transform eye health in Kenya and beyond, one trained professional at a time.

Also present were senior officials from the Ministry of Health and technical experts from FHF specializing in programme development, monitoring and evaluation, and global communications.

...Ends