By S, KNA
Nyeri County is set to get a major boost in delivery of health services following a partnership programme with Amref Health Africa and the Ministry of Health.
Under the Global Fund Covid-19 Response Mechanism-Oxygen Infrastructure Project, the county will receive an assortment of medical equipment to help attend to patients in need of critical services.
Among the consignment include critical medical supplies such as patient monitors, oxygen analysers and wall flowmeters.
Facilities set to benefit from the donations include Othaya Sub-County Hospital, Narumoru Level 4 Hospital, Consolata Hospital Mathari, Endarasha, Wamagana, Gichira, Island Farm, Kiganjo, Unjiru, and Ruguru Health Centres.
Speaking at the Department of Medical Services and Public Health during a brief handover ceremony, Amref Health Africa Logistics Officer, David Makama, said the partnership would enhance the provision of health services in the county.
Mr Makama also thanked the County Government of Nyeri for their continued support and collaboration with Amref’s programs terming the partnership beneficial in easing the public access to health services.
“We thank the County Government of Nyeri for their continued collaboration with Amref Health Africa and wish to pledge our sustained support in strengthening health systems in this area. In particular, we commend the successful operationalisation of oxygen piping projects in Mweiga, Unjiru, Othaya, and Naromoru Hospitals – initiatives sponsored and completed by Amref last year.” pointed out the official.
On his part the Department of Health Chief Officer, Mr Ibrahim Adan, lauded Amref for the contribution terming the handover of the oxygen equipment a timely gesture.
Adan said the donation would go a long way in improving the medical services in the county’s health facilities and in the process save many lives.
“This donation will significantly enhance the capacity of health services, particularly in expanding access to oxygen. As a county we are grateful for the donation,” he said.
County Medical Engineer, Mr John Muriuki, conducted a sensitisation session to health practitioners and stressed on the need for extreme care of the equipment.
He emphasised the importance of routine maintenance and timely reporting of any malfunctions.
“These are costly and vital devices. Let us handle them with the utmost care and ensure any issues are promptly reported to the medical engineering team,” he advised.
The County Government has been partnering with both local and foreign stakeholders in revamping health families in all the eight sub counties in an effort to bring quality health care closer to the public.
In December last year Governor Mutahi Kahiga unveiled the Renovated Emergency Department as well as the newly constructed Oxygen Manifold at the Nyeri County Referral Hospital.
This project is a joint venture by the Polish Development Co-operation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs-Republic of Poland, EMKF and the County Government of Nyeri.
While unveiling the project, Dr Kahiga lauded the Polish Government and EMKF which he said had played a pivotal role in the refurbishment of the county referral health facility.
“We just came here to launch and officially receive this facility as it is now. A lot of work has gone into it if you look around you. If you look around you will see it has been enlarged to be a 13-bed capacity casualty ward. I want to really thank the Polish Government and the Emergency Medical Kenya Foundation. This is a collaboration effort and we really appreciate what has been done. A number of times I have been here there has been a lot of congestion but now it has modernised and enlarged.” he said.
Head of the Polish Development Co-operation Pawel Pijanowski said Poland had invested at least US $ 283,000 in Nyeri, Vihiga and other parts of the country towards promoting health-related projects.
He said the 8-cylinder capacity Oxygen Manifold and the refurbished and expanded Accident and Emergency facility will go a long way in enhancing quality health care to the residents of Nyeri and the neighbouring counties.
“We are here to celebrate the completion of a unique project which is an effort of cooperation between the Treatment with a Mission, the Polish Embassy and Emergency Medical Kenya Foundation whose representation we have here today,” said Pijanowski.