The Mpesa Foundation has officially launched a Sh60 million major Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) facility at the Vihiga Teaching and Referral Hospital, aimed at improving maternal services in the area.
The maternity complex boasts a 90-bed capacity and is expected to alleviate the financial burden on mothers and children.Speaking during the launching ceremony, Governor Dr. Wilber Otichillo hailed the partnership between the Mpesa Foundation and the Vihiga county administration.
“This maternity wing of our hospital has been built in a record nine months and fully equipped with modern equipment and technology. The efficiency and effectiveness of the Mpesa Foundation is commendable. I hope to see similar initiatives from the government,” he said.
On his part, Chairman of the Mpesa Foundation, Joseph Ogutu, commended the efforts of the county government in promoting healthcare. “We are delighted to support projects that benefit the people. We are committed to ensuring the functionality of this hospital and will continue to support its future endeavors,” he stated.
Chair of the Health Committee in the County Assembly, Dr. Fred Mavisi emphasized the collaborative efforts of the Executive and the Assembly in delivering essential services to the community.
At the same time, the County Executive for Health, Dr. Nicholas Kitungulu, reiterated their commitment to working closely with other partners to ensure efficient delivery of healthcare services to the people.
This development marks a significant step towards improving maternal and child health in Vihiga County, thanks to the support of the Mpesa Foundation and a dedicated team of local county government officials.
The first mother to deliver her child at the state-of-the-art maternity wing, Claire Lisino from Sabatia Sub County commended the local administration and the Mpesa Foundation for this life-changing initiative.
Lisino said she was handled with utmost care in a very conducive hospital environment, unlike the case in other public hospitals, where she had previously delivered her other two children.
By Sylvester Muhadi and Maureen Imbayi
