By D, KNA
Residents of the remote villages of Ngarendare, Mbujuu and Manyangaro have received a major boost in healthcare access following the opening of the first-ever maternity wing at Ngare Ndare Dispensary, a project jointly implemented by Lewa Wildlife Conservancy and the Meru County Government.
For decades, expectant mothers in the three villages were forced to walk more than 20 kilometres to access maternity services in Nanyuki, Meru town or Isiolo, often putting their lives and those of their unborn children at risk.
Local residents hailed the new facility as a game changer, saying that it has changed their lives noting women can now give birth in a safe and hygienic environment.
Lewa Wildlife Conservancy Partnerships and Programmes Coordinator John Kinoti said the project was part of Lewa’s commitment to community development.
“Ngarendare is a landlocked area that lacked health services. The maternity will not only improve healthcare but also support environmental conservation by reducing risky movements during emergencies,” he said, noting that women previously gave birth at home or in forests due to lack of access to medical services.
The newly launched maternity wing has a 12-bed capacity and is fully equipped.
Lewa invested more than Sh3.3 million in equipping the facility with beds, baby warmers, delivery equipment, a washing machine and partitions.
The conservancy also invested more than Sh5 million in equipping the laboratory, supplying reagents, servicing equipment, employing a laboratory technician, constructing staff housing and paying support staff salaries for more than five years.
“This is a relief to mothers because they will access the facility easily. It is also a good way to begin the year, offering good health services and saving lives,” Kinoti said.
Meru Governor Mutuma M’Ethingia described the maternity wing as a life-changing project that would significantly reduce maternal and infant mortality.
“This maternity has a state-of-the-art equipment and will ensure safer deliveries. We will deploy medical officers and ensure adequate drugs are supplied to this level two facility,” he said.
The governor also assured residents that his administration would defend them against land grabbers who have been a hindrance to land development in the area.
The Meru County Government constructed the maternity ward, while Lewa Wildlife Conservancy equipped it.
Residents say the facility is a game changer, easing the burden of long treks to distant hospitals and reducing reliance on Lewa’s ambulances during emergencies.
