Laikipia seeks assistance from the National government to equip local hospital

Nanyuki, Tuesday, June 27, 2023,

KNA by Martin Munyi

Laikipia County government is appealing to the National government to come to its aid and equip a newly constructed 120-bed maternity wing at the Nyahururu Referral Hospital.

County Executive Committee Member for Health Alfred Wagura said that the ultra-modern mother and child facility had remained unutilised since its completion last year yet the devolved unit was unable to equip it. The facility was meant to decongest the maternity wards.

“We are appealing to the national government to chip in and support our county equip this facility, we are aware that health is a devolved function but still we could use some help since we have done a magnificent structure that just requires equipping to start offering services,” Wagura said.

The CECM spoke Monday when he hosted a team from the County Development Implementation and Coordination Committee (CDICC) at the Nyahururu hospital who were on-site tour to assess progress made in the health sector under the Medical Equipment Services by the National government.

“Laikipia County government has met its bargain by putting up the facility and we feel now that the National government as a big brother should now come in and give us a pat on the back by equipping this facility,” he said.

Igwamiti MCA Irene Wacuka who was also present during the site visit echoed the CECM sentiments calling on the National government to provide medical machinery at the new facility.

John Nderitu a director at the President Delivery Unit said that the CDICC team was pleased to note that the hospital machines brought in under the Medical Equipment Services programme were functional except for two x-ray equipment.

“We have been informed that a few machines need repairs and I can confirm that the suppliers have committed to fixing them soonest so that they can be of use at the hospital,” Nderitu said.

The CDICC team also made an inspection tour of the upgrade of Laikipia East Vocational College and also inspected the ongoing tarmacking of the Naromoru-Lamuria-Makutano road. The team expressed dissatisfaction with the slow pace of the road works that were being carried out.

Courtesy ; K. N. A