Nyamira Governor Amos Nyaribo has commissioned the construction of an ultra-modern maternity complex costing Sh60 million sponsored by M-Pesa Foundation to improve maternal healthcare services in the county.
Speaking at Nyamusi Sub County on Wednesday, Nyaribo noted that the current facility offering maternity services is too small and underequipped and has been overridden in capacity to cater for the increased population, a situation that has slowed services and endangered the lives of expectant women, unborn babies and newborns.
“I greatly appreciate teamwork by county staff led by Chief Officer, Finance Department Dr. Asenath Maobe, for networking and crafting a proposal for mobilization of financial resources for construction of this critical facility to redeem a life-threatening situation while rendering health care services to our mothers and newborns,” Governor Nyaribo said.
“We are indebted to M-Pesa Foundation for approving our proposal and agreeing to invest a whopping Sh60,000 million to set up this maternity complex in a record six months. The contractor has assured that come March next year, the facility will be officially ready for handing over to the people of Nyamusi,” the governor said.
“Improvement of the health sector was one of my key promises to the people of Nyamira when I took the oath of office as the Governor of Nyamira and with the support from my ministers and chief officers and other staff, I promise to do everything humanly possible to ensure I deliver all that I promised in all sectors to the residents of the county,” the county boss assured.
He thanked the County Assembly for approving the medical fund bill which will be used to procure pharmaceutical commodities and curb the perennial challenge of lack of drugs in hospitals and health facilities as a measure to efficiently deliver health services to the people of Nyamira.
Nyamira County Executive Committee Member for Health, Donald Mogoi, revealed that the necessity for seeking financial support towards construction of a maternity complex stemmed from surveys indicating at least three deaths in every 1000 mothers who gave birth, which he noted was very alarming considering medical technology has greatly advanced to secure lives and healthy births by all mothers.
“Childbirth is meant to be a celebration and not a death sentence. This Maternal Neonatal and Child Health Unit (MNCHU) is therefore very timely to provide access to comprehensive care to ensure no single mother or newborn should die in the presence of this well-equipped maternity unit,” CEC Mr. Mogoi said.
Ms. Patricia Ithau, Trustee, M-Pesa Foundation, Safaricom PLC observed that there are about 21,000 women in Nyamira County who are active in their reproductive age and they don’t have a comprehensive facility for quality maternal health care services.
“We are excited to commission this project that is geared towards improving the lives of the people of Nyamira County, especially in Nyamusi Sub-County.
Safaricom, through all her foundations has been very keen on investing in sectors like education and health. Last year, the county allowed us to hold a free medical camp where we served 1800 clients.
As we mark 15 years of existence as M-Pesa Foundation, this year we are investing in establishing and equipping medical facilities to ensure every community has access to health care.” Ms. Ithau stated.
She explained that M-Pesa Foundation is investing Sh60 million in Nyamusi Sub County to construct a theatre, deliver sterilizing equipment, and build an 11-bed antenatal ward, a 22-bed capacity newbornunit with a 9-bed kangaroo room, 1 consultation room, internal washrooms, and a supply of medical gas that will ensure all critical rooms are self-sufficient.
Ithau added that for the benefit of the local community around, the foundation will drill an electric-powered borehole to support this community around Nyamusi and plant 1,000 tree seedlings that shall be maintained throughout this project and leave an environment with a cool, green ambience.
Safaricom Foundation chairman Joe Ogutu observed that more needs to be done in Nyamira County because they need to improve in various sectors, including education, and hence advised county officials present to write more proposals for funding adding that despite Safaricom’s financial constraints, they were very willing to work with the county to ensure they change the livelihoods of the people of Nyamira.
He pledged the establishment of other integrated livelihood support programs including economic empowerment projects. “We promise that we shall be coming back in six months to open this facility as the contractor has assured,” he said.
Nyamira North Deputy County Commissioner Simon Osumba appealed to all residents to enroll with SHA to be able to get medical services at affordable rates in all public health facilities noting that, at the moment, Nyamira County is at 45 percent enrollment. He rallied all those who had not registered to do so since it was possible to attain 100 percent enrollment because the rates are very friendly.
By Deborah Bochere
