Mandera gets set for modern hospital, varsity

Mandera Governor Ali Roba inspects a guard of honour mounted by the County's enforcement officers during the opening of the County Assembly last week. Photo by JOB WERU/Standard.

Governor Ali Roba has said plans are underway to put up a multi-million, ultra-modern hospital complex.

Once operational, the facility will offer specialised treatment and cater for all modern hospital amenities including HDU, ICU, cancer treatment centre, accident and emergency centre with dialysis, CT-scans, MRI machines among others.

EXTRA TRAINING

"Our objective is to have a wing that will be used by visiting specialist doctors. We also intend to send medical personnel to Turkey for specialised refresher training and short stint courses on how to operate these sophisticated machines," he said.

Speaking while addressing the county assembly, the governor said his administration is committed to the establishment of modern livestock markets and revival of stalled irrigation schemes.

"For us to stop being over dependent on relief food, we must move away from rain fed agriculture and embrace irrigation farming which will ensure we have food all year round," he said.

Mr Roba also said the Livestock department will establish modern livestock markets across the county with demonstration farms to aid training among pastoral communities.

"Plans for establishment of a veterinary college that will train personnel in the livestock sector are at an advanced stage.

NEW PARTNERS

A lot has to be done in order to transform pastoralism from a way of life and make it a viable economic activity.

With this in mind, we have partnered with the Government to enhance construction of an international airport," he said.

Roba also said the county has partnered with Technical University of Kenya to open Mandera University of Science and Technology expected to admit 300 students by August.

He also said his government has upgraded 577 kilometres of dirt road to all weather murram roads.