More than 300,000 residents of Mombasa's Changamwe and Jomvu constituencies are expected to benefit from better medicine storage after the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) handed over a refurbished medicine store at Port Reitz Sub-County Hospital.

The facility was handed over this week in a ceremony attended by Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir and KEMSA Chief Executive Officer Dr Waqo Ejersa.

What was fixed

According to KEMSA, the works followed an assessment in April 2025 which found that the hospital's store lacked enough space, had deteriorating infrastructure and could not guarantee proper conditions for keeping medicines. The authority then carried out the renovation under its corporate social responsibility programme.

The upgrade included:

  • An air-conditioning system and a new ceiling to help control temperature.
  • New flooring and additional windows fitted with security grills for ventilation and security.
  • Repaired storage racks and reinforced walls that had cracked.
  • New office space, a washroom, and gutters for rainwater harvesting.

Dr Ejersa said the quality of medicines can be lost even after they are delivered to a hospital if they are kept in poor conditions. "Protecting the quality of medicines does not end with procurement or delivery. Appropriate storage conditions are equally important in preserving product integrity before medicines reach patients," he said.

Governor welcomes partnership

Governor Nassir said cooperation between KEMSA and county governments was necessary to fix infrastructure gaps that affect the delivery of health services.

"We appreciate KEMSA's continued partnership with Mombasa County and remain committed to strengthening our collaboration to ensure that our health facilities have reliable access to quality, affordable medicines and other essential medical supplies," Nassir said.

Part of a wider coast programme

The Port Reitz project follows similar KEMSA-funded store upgrades at Mtwapa Sub-County Hospital in Kilifi and Msambweni County Referral Hospital in Kwale. The authority says it has also supported a laboratory project at Nyonjoro Health Centre in Nakuru and is finishing another at Dakabaricha Dispensary in Marsabit.

KEMSA has also asked counties, through the Council of Governors, to sign an agreement involving all 47 counties and the Social Health Authority (SHA) to smooth the supply of medicines and ensure suppliers are paid on time.

Photos: KEMSA via Kenyans.co.ke. Thumbnail design: HAMASTA MEDIA.