The construction of a new state-of-the-art health facility to allow for relocation of the Kenneth Matiba Eye and dental Hospital to Kenol town in Murang’a County is expected to commence in two months’ time.
Murang’a County Health Executive member Joseph Mbai said they had identified seven acres of lands at Kimorori primary school ground, a few metres from the current facility.
He said plans were at preliminary stages to establish designs, cost implications and number of units for the new facility.
He said the new facility will be upgraded into a Centre of excellence and will be expected to provide specialised treatment of eye, dental, throat and ear complications to patients across the country.
He said once complete, the five floor health facility will help drive the government’s move in achieving its agenda four on universal health coverage.
He was speaking to the press outside the hospital at Kenol town after he met national government officials to discuss the progress made in regard to the relocation.
He said the hospital was expected to become operational in two years’ time, and will be able to treat about 500 patients daily compared to the 100 it has been attending to.
It has about Sh100 million worth of equipment some so specialized not to be found in other hospitals across the country.
“It will be a centre of excellence treating patients with eye, dental, throat and ear problems. It will be equipped with modern equipment and specialized doctors.
Later, it will be able to handle bone complications to ease pressure on Kijabe and Kikuyu mission hospitals,” he said.
It is expected to widen its patients’ base to Counties within the region including Nairobi, Kiambu, Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Embu, Tharaka Nithi, Meru, Machakos and Kitui among others.
The relocation, he added, will come as a relief to the County government which has been paying close to Sh14.4 million annually as rent where the hospital has been operating from since its establishment in 2015.
The hospital has since its inception four years ago, operated on 3,000 people with eye complications.
A mortuary will also be constructed at the facility to help residents from travelling long distances to preserve their departed kinsmen.
During Matiba’s burial, Murang’a Governor Mwangi Wa Iria requested President Uhuru Kenyatta to consider supporting the County to relocate the facility in honour of the former politician.
By Muoki Charles
