Nyeri County opens new 35-bed capacity maternity hospital

Nyeri Deputy Governor David Kinaniri and Embassy of Japan Deputy Ambassador Yasuhisa Kitagama during the opening of the Nyeri town Maternity Hospital. [Purity Mwangi, Standard]

Women living in informal settlements within Nyeri town will benefit from the commissioning of a state-of-the-art Maternity hospital located in the Central Business District (CBD).

During the opening of the Nyeri Town Health Centre Maternity Hospital, Nyeri Deputy Governor David Kinaniri said the County has prioritized health in its recently launched 5-year County Integrated Development Plan.

Kinaniri who represented Governor Mutahi Kahiga at the event said the 35-bed capacity hospital will positively change the lives of mothers and children.

"We have made a significant milestone towards achieving our vision of ending maternal and neonatal deaths in Nyeri County and we will focus on the efforts to decongest the County referral hospital to improve health services," he said.

The maternity hospital was built in partnership with Japan through the Japanese Organization for International Cooperation in Family Planning (JOICFP) and the County following the signing of an MoU in March 2022.

"This facility will serve a catchment population of over 30,000 persons drawn from Majengo slums, Ngangarithi, Nyeri town and its environs," said Kinaniri.

The 35-bed facility will provide amenities including antenatal and postnatal wards, a maternity and child health clinic, a laboratory, consultation rooms, specialized clinics, a delivery room, a new-born unit, a Central Sterile Supply Department (CSSD), nurse stations, offices, a kitchen and laundry.

The project has also funded the procurement and installation of a modern incinerator and generator and the training of staff to ensure they have the requisite knowledge and skills to run a mother and child department.

"I appreciate the government of Japan and following our tour we can confirm the building is structurally sound and can support two additional floors," Kinaniri stated.

He said the county will ensure the new hospital has adequate staff for the facility that now qualifies to be a level 4 hospital from its current level 3 status.

Japan Deputy Ambassador Yasuhisa Kitagama said they are committed to strengthening maternal and health child services in line with the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG).

"Sustainable Development Goal 3 strives to ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive healthcare services, including family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health for all," Kitagama said.

JOICFP has collaborated with the Department of Health Services to boost and enhance maternal health care in Nyeri since 2018.

The organization has previously supported Nyeri Town Health Centre, Tumaini Dispensary and Nyeri G.K Prison Dispensary.