County's first medical training college to admit students soon

FROM LEFT: Wajir County Government Governor Ahmed Abdullahi,Health Ministry Principal Secretary Dr Nicholas Muraguri,Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Secretary General , Ouma Oluga and Wajir South Mp Abdullahi Diriye visiting the new Wajir Medical Training College in Wajir Town yesterday Wednesday 24th February 2016. PHOTOS:JAMES WANZALA/STANDARD

The county government has started a full-fledged medical training college.

The college is the first of its kind in the county and it consists of two classrooms each with a capacity of 45 students, a computer lab, practicals lab, two hostels and a dining hall.

"The medical training college will help us train our local people and those from neighbouring counties," said Governor Ahmed Abdullahi during a tour of the facility.

The over Sh200 million college with a 200 bed-capacity is ready and only awaits registration from the Ministry of Health.

"I wish the college would have been opened like yesterday. Our hospitals are well-equipped with drugs but lack specialists like anesthetists, surgeons among others," said Mr Abdullahi.

The county sends its people to Nairobi's Kenya Medical Training College, a distance of 493km to train in various fields.

"We currently have two nurses and three anesthetists whose fees are fully paid for by the county government and they will be graduating soon. But with our new college, we will train them here," said Health Executive Rukia Maalim.

Ministry of Health Principal Secretary Nicholas Muraguri who was part of the tour appreciated the county's effort of ensuring the hospitals were well stocked with drugs and other facilities.

"The ministry has started a programme to offer students scholarships to study nursing in non-urban centres," said Dr Muraguri.