Governor Sospeter Ojaamong’s administration will spend Sh111 million conditional grant from the World Bank to construct a 300-bed capacity mother and child wing at Alupe sub-county hospital.
The funds were released to the county through Kenya Devolution Support Programme.
Mr Ojaamong (pictured) announced the plan as he launched a maternity wing and laboratory at Obekai Health Centre in Teso South Constituency at the weekend.
The governor said he was keen on easing congestion at the county's referral hospital.
“It is the responsibility of the county to ensure members of public access better medical services,” he said.
"The construction of the specialised wing will help improve maternal and child healthcare across the county.
Planning stage
"The project is in the planning stage, with initial approval by the World Bank already done,” he said.
The launch of a maternity unit at Obekai comes as a relief for residents of Kaliwa and Okatekok in Teso South, who have had to transport expectant women more than 15km to seek maternity services.
Jackline Amachulang', the nursing officer in charge of Obekai, sought more medical staff to enable the health centre operate round the clock. “We hope the county will post more nurses to provide maternity services 24 hours,” she said.
She said most health facilities closed in the evening.
Deputy governor Moses Mulomi, who is also the County Executive for Health, said more maternity wings would be established in local dispensaries.