Expectant mothers and newborns in Kipkelion West Sub-County, Kericho County, are set to access safe deliveries and expanded essential maternal healthcare services, following the commencement of construction of the Fort Ternan Mother and Child Health Unit (MCU) at Fort Ternan Level IV Hospital.
The facility is part of Kericho County’s broader efforts to strengthen primary healthcare by upgrading health infrastructure as well as expanding access to essential maternal and child health services, with the project being implemented through a partnership between the government and the M-PESA Foundation.
The groundbreaking ceremony for the mother and child health unit was officiated by Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot, who revealed that the project will play a critical role in strengthening maternal and newborn healthcare services while addressing long-standing gaps in healthcare in Kipkelion West Sub-County.
“Today, we are laying the foundation for a facility that will save lives and strengthen health for families across this region,” he said.
Cheruiyot, who is also the Kericho Senator, emphasised that strengthening primary healthcare facilities was essential in reducing congestion at referral hospitals while ensuring critical services are delivered closer to communities.
He added that that healthcare, as a devolved function, required sustained county investment in modern infrastructure, skilled health personnel and reliable medical supplies to achieve lasting impact.
On his part, the Kericho Governor, Dr. Eric Mutai, while officially handing over the construction site to the M-PESA Foundation, reaffirmed the county government’s commitment to strengthening health care infrastructure as part of its broader development agenda.
Mutai revealed that the county had already established a modern theatre and radiology unit at Fort Ternan Hospital, saying the new MCH unit would further fast-track efforts to upgrade the facility to a fully-fledged Level IV hospital,
“This partnership continues to complement our investments and improve healthcare outcomes,” he explained.
In the meantime, M-PESA Foundation Territory Business Lead Sarah Choge said the foundation was proud to partner with the county government in delivering a project that would provide modern-day life-saving facilities for mothers and their newborns across the region.
She mentioned that key activities during the visit included the unveiling of the official project plaque, symbolic excavation works and tree planting to promote a green and healthy environment around the hospital.
The Fort Ternan Mother and Child Health facility is expected to significantly reduce maternal and infant mortality rates while reinforcing the government’s commitment to people-centred development and improved quality healthcare services.
By Kibe Mburu
