Industrial and Commercial Food Products Company, SICPA Kenya, has installed two water tanks, each with a capacity of 10,000 litres, at Muthetheni Health Centre in Mwala Sub-county.
The initiative aims to support rainwater harvesting and ensure a sustainable water supply for the facility’s maternity wing.
SICPA, a swiss technology company that provides security solutions for governments and other Organisations took the initiative as a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme to ensure a reliable supply of clean water for mothers and babies at the Muthetheni health centre, especially during the dry season.
SICPA General Manager Lilian Atogo narrated that the decision was based on the need to improve the ward’s cleanliness and improve the patients welfare because mothers are required to carry water when coming to the hospital, thus compromising hygiene standards as well as the safety of pregnant women, leading to maternal deaths.
Atogo noted that they chose Muthetheni because they realised most corporate organisations focus on urban facilities and overlook rural remote centres and so they decided to do their CSR in Muthetheni as it aligns with their sustainability goals.
She added that for several years the women in Muthetheni have suffered because of a lack of reliable water and nurses have had to worry about where they could get clean water for sterilisation instead of focusing on treating the patients and though they may have other needs, SICPA focused on what aligned with their strategic goals and initiative to serve deserving communities.
“The water tanks are to support the maternity wing because of the current poor sanitation and the water project is aligned with our goals since our commitment is to enhance the well-being of the communities around,” said Ms. Atogo.
Machakos Chief Officer for Health Simon Mwako commended SICPA support and called for the strengthening of Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) in expanding healthcare services in remote and overlooked communities while improving healthcare outcomes.
Mwako said the county advocates for partners coming to their aid and supporting rural communities and bringing forth various development projects and called upon other stakeholders to support the healthcare systems.
“It’s a wake-up call to other partners to focus more on rural areas that require more help and not put all their efforts in urban areas,” added the Chief Officer.
Agnes Waeni, an expectant mother from Muthetheni village who was admitted at the health centre, said the water challenge forced them to carry their own water from home for use at the hospital yet others were coming from far away, which posed a major health risk for them.
She appreciated SICPA for their support because patients at the maternity wing will enjoy showers and clean treated drinking water that is safe for them and their babies.
By Anne Kangero
