United Nations donates Sh100m medical equipment in Kilifi

The United Nations Population Fund (UNPF) has donated Sh100 million-worth of medical equipment to different hospitals in Kilifi county.

The equipment include anesthesia machine, infant incubators and midwifery items.

County Health Executive Rachael Musyoki said the supplies will be used in the one-week free medical and surgical camp that has been organised by the county starting today.

"The donated medical equipment will help boost the free medical camp that kicks off tomorrow (today). Those who will require surgical services will be admitted to the Kilifi County Referral Hospital," she said.

Receiving the donation on Saturday, Health Chief Officer Timothy Malingi said the medical equipment were received through a partnership programme between the county and the UN organisation.

Mr Malingi said the county had made a proposal to the UNPF requesting for the medical equipment.

"The county government entered into a partnership programme with UNPF with the aim of getting support in terms of medical facilities to help improve service delivery," he said.

The officer said children below the age of five have been dying due to lack of proper medical care.

He said the county has sourced for modern medical machines to ensure people get proper medical services.

Malingi said the equipment will be distributed to all health centres, including Kilifi Referral Hospital.

He said survey work had been done to establish which health centres were in dire need of the equipment before the distribution programme kicks off.

He said though the county has been budgeting for the health sector, the demand is high.

He said the county administration has been holding talks with private partners with the aim of establishing partnership in the health sector.

The donation comes barely a month after the county spent Sh104 million to acquire anatomy CT scan machine and four x-ray digital machines.