Maternal and child health services in Nandi County are set for a major boost following the completion of the 420-bed Mother and Child Hospital in Kapsabet town, Nandi County.
The new hospital, set for commissioning next month is expected to expand the county’s capacity to provide specialized maternal, newborn and paediatric healthcare services, while easing pressure on the existing maternity and children’s units at Kapsabet County Referral Hospital.
The facility is also expected to strengthen the referral system by providing a central point, where mothers and children requiring specialized attention can receive comprehensive care.
The County Executive for Health Services Dr. Angeline Kirui said the commissioning of the facility would mark an important milestone in the county’s efforts to improve maternal and child health outcomes.
Dr. Kirui said the additional bed capacity would enable the health department to accommodate more mothers and children, while improving access to specialized services.
She said the investment would be particularly important in strengthening emergency maternal and newborn care, where timely intervention can make a significant difference in the outcome of complicated pregnancies and deliveries.
At the same time, the hospital is expected to provide increased space for antenatal, maternity, postnatal, newborn and paediatric services, thus enabling healthcare workers to attend to a larger number of patients in a more organized environment.
“It’s commissioning is also expected to reduce the pressure currently experienced at Kapsabet County Referral Hospital, which serves as a major referral facility for patients from different parts of the County,” she said.
She said mothers referred from health centres, dispensaries and sub-county hospitals will have an expanded facility, where they can receive specialized attention without necessarily being transferred outside the county.
The County Executive stated that said the county government was committed to ensuring that residents access quality healthcare services at the closest proximity to their homes.
Equally, the new hospital will strengthen maternal healthcare by providing additional capacity for skilled deliveries, emergency obstetric care and postnatal services.
Expectant mothers with pregnancy complications will also have improved access to specialized medical attention.
The facility is similarly expected to enhance newborn healthcare through expanded services for babies requiring specialized attention immediately after birth.
Health officials anticipate that the hospital will improve the management of complicated deliveries by bringing together specialized personnel and equipment in a facility specifically designed to cater for mothers and children.
The additional capacity will also be important in improving continuity of care. Mothers can receive antenatal services before delivery and continue accessing postnatal care at the same facility, while newborns and children can receive follow-up services when necessary.
Dr. Kirui said maternal and child healthcare remained a priority for the county government, adding that investment in infrastructure had to be matched with adequate staffing, equipment, medicines and other essential supplies.
The hospital is therefore expected to complement ongoing investments in primary healthcare facilities across Nandi. As lower-level facilities continue providing routine services, complicated maternal and child cases can be referred to Kapsabet for further management.
The County Executive stated that the strengthened referral system would also reduce the time taken to transfer patients, particularly women experiencing obstetric emergencies and newborns requiring specialized care.
The facility is expected to benefit residents from both urban and rural parts of Nandi, including communities living far away from Kapsabet. With an expanded referral centre within the county, families will also face fewer challenges associated with travelling long distances in search of specialized maternal and child healthcare.
The hospital is also likely to create opportunities for healthcare workers to improve their skills through exposure to a wider range of maternal, newborn and paediatric cases.
Health workers from lower-level facilities will benefit from strengthened referral linkages, mentorship and professional collaboration with specialists based at the county referral hospital,” said Dr. Kirui.
She said the county will continue investing in healthcare infrastructure, as part of broader efforts to improve service delivery and ensure that residents receive quality medical attention.
Beyond the physical infrastructure, the success of the new facility will depend on adequate staffing, continuous availability of medicines and medical supplies, modern equipment and efficient referral mechanisms.
Consequently, commissioning of the hospital would in the long run add significant capacity to Nandi’s overall health system and provide a conducive environment for mothers and children seeking medical services.
For expectant mothers, the facility is expected to offer greater access to skilled healthcare during pregnancy and childbirth, while newborns and children will also benefit from expanded access to specialized services under one facility.
Dr. Kirui said the county government would continue prioritizing programmes and investments, aimed at improving maternal, newborn and child health, noting that stronger healthcare infrastructure was essential in improving the quality and accessibility of services.
The Mother and Child Hospital is expected to become an important component of Kapsabet County Referral Hospital, serving mothers and children from across the County and strengthening the county’s capacity to respond to their healthcare needs.
By Sammy Mwibanda
