Sh1 billion medical complex nears completion

Construction of a modern hospital complex at the Kerugoya Referral Hospital is halfway done and will be completed by September.

The Sh1 billion complex is fully funded by the county government, complemented with technical support from the national government.

Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru said the complex will house intensive care units, high dependency units, an outpatient wing, theatres, a renal unit, emergency and casualty department, paediatric, surgical and medical wards, counselling and palliative care units, pharmacy, CT scan and X-ray services.

While on an inspection tour at the facility, Waiguru pointed out that the complex includes a 250-bed section that will add to the existing capacity to make it a 500-bed facility.

The county chief was accompanied by Public Works Chief Administrative Secretary Wavinya Ndeti who said the government had pumped billions of shillings into housing projects across the country, which are intended to lift the lives of the ordinary citizens.

Waiguru said medical complex will transform Kerugoya Referral Hospital into a level five facility.

“The elevated hospital will also get management support from the national government to ensure that it provides a certain level of services,” said the governor.

Waiguru said the renal unit with nine dialysis machines has alleviated the suffering among kidney patients who were earlier seeking services from private healthcare providers or at hospitals outside the county.

Emergency services

A 20-bed capacity eye unit has also been established at the hospital constructed in partnership with Operation Eye-Sight and the county is now seeking to equip it.

“We are undertaking massive reforms in the health sector in order to boost implementation of Universal Health Coverage (UHC),” she said.

The governor said her administration has in the past two years purchased three ambulances, bring the total to six.

She said the ambulances have enhanced emergency services in the county, especially evacuation of road accident victims.

She added that to improve service delivery and hygiene standards, the county has refurbished the outpatient department and constructed a modern laundry and kitchen unit at the referral hospital.

The governor said the county government has built maternity wards in various hospitals in order to increase bed capacity and create a conducive environment for mothers delivering at the facilities.