Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani has officially launched the construction of a Sh14 million accident and an emergency facility at the Msambweni Teaching and County Referral Hospital in Msambweni Sub County.
The new facility, which is being built through a partnership between the Kwale county government and the Emergency Medicine Kenya Foundation (EMKF), aims to reduce the number of deaths resulting from various accidents, including road accidents as well as from the lack of other emergency services.
The construction of the specialized facility will include a ward with the capacity to accommodate nine modern hospital beds, an isolation ward, and a central oxygen supply system to assist patients experiencing breathing difficulties while receiving treatment.
“Our goal is to make sure every resident of Kwale can access quality, timely, and life-saving medical services whenever and wherever emergencies occur,” she said, adding that the emergency facility will ramp up emergency care.
The coastal county boss said the Msambweni referral hospital’s accident and emergency wing is a 24-hour facility well equipped to deal with emergencies as it is located strategically near the entrance.
Achani commended the EMKF for supporting the county in building a more resilient healthcare system noting that the new project aligns with her administration’s agenda to enhance emergency medical care.
She said the hospital will be equipped with a trauma care ward, an operation theatre and an intensive care unit to provide timely medical assistance to accident victims.
The Msambweni hospital is domiciled along the busy Mombasa-Lunga Lunga highway that connects the coastal region to northern parts of neighbouring Tanzania and the project is chosen because of the facility’s strategic location in ease of access and swift medical intervention.
Speaking during the launch, Governor Achani stated that, besides offering emergency services, the new center will also help improve overall healthcare services at the Msambweni Referral Hospital for residents of the area and Kwale County at large.
She said the partnership and intervention with Emergency Medicine Kenya Foundation set a new benchmark for public-private partnership in healthcare infrastructure development.
Achani said auxiliary facilities such as triage units, fully equipped emergency wards and diagnostic units would significantly enhance the quality of care that would be provided in the new centre.
“We are committed to ensuring that every resident of Kwale can access quality and timely emergency medical services. This facility will not only save lives but also strengthen our entire healthcare system,” said Achani.
Governor Achani added that the project will include training of the emergency health workers in order to enhance quality service delivery to the residents.
“Sometimes, how health workers handle the sick matters a lot, and that is why the county, in collaboration with our partners, will provide training to our health workers,” said Achani.
The Governor was accompanied by her deputy Chirema Kombo and County Health Executive Francis Gwama and medical director Msambweni Referral Hospital Francis Ndiege.
Achani said so far, the county has implemented major development projects at Msambweni County Teaching and Referral Hospital, including the construction and equipping of an Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Renal Unit, Newborn Unit, oxygen-making plant, drug store, reverse osmosis water treatment plant, and a 60-bed capacity new maternity wing.
To further boost the health sector, the devolved government has constructed and equipped 178 health centers across all 20 administrative wards and employed more than 1,900 healthcare workers.
“Our administration will continue investing in healthcare infrastructure and training so that every health facility in Kwale can respond effectively to emergencies,” she said.
On her part, the Emergency Medicine Kenya Foundation Program Manager, Lilian Waihuini, said the organization will continue partnering with the devolved unit to ensure a reduction in fatalities caused by accidents in the county.
She said they are excited to support the new Msambweni hospital facility noting that the initiative is part of the ongoing effort to ensure that all public Emergency Departments across the counties are equipped with essential emergency medical care equipment, empowering the hospitals to respond effectively to medical emergencies and save lives.
“This project demonstrates what can be achieved when local governments and health organizations work together. We will continue supporting the county in reducing preventable deaths caused by road accidents and other emergencies,” said Lilian.
Lilian said with the rising burden of road traffic crashes and other emergencies, strengthening emergency medical care will save countless lives in Kenya.
She said EMKF, is equipping Community Health Workers with essential lifesaving skills through the Community Emergency Care Training Program.
Area residents led by Suleiman Koi praised the partnership project as a major step toward curbing deaths that were previously witnessed due to the lack of emergency services.
He said the new centre will provide area residents with swift lifesaving care in critical medical situations, reducing preventable deaths, and promoting public health.
“For many years, people here have lost loved ones because help came too late. With this emergency center, we finally expect that lives will be saved,” said Koi.
By Hussein Abdullahi and Rachael Nzioki
