Residents of Kairini in Tharaka Nithi County have a reason to smile after Chuka University launched a level two hospital facility in Kithagani location Igambang’ombe Sub-County.
Speaking during the launch, Chuka University Vice Chancellor, Prof Erastus Njoka, said that the facility is meant to boost healthcare services in the area by bringing them closer to the community.
The Vice Chancellor disclosed that the nearest hospital is about 10 km in Ishara sub-location or 24 km in Chuka town which made residents walk long distances to receive medication.
He further revealed that they have equipped the hospital with anti-venom drugs to help with the increased cases of poisonous snake bites.
“We have had cases of victims from poisonous snake bites seeking medication in very far areas which are very risky and this will help them receive treatment fast,” he said.
The professor noted that the hospital is a non-profit facility that was meant to cater for the needs of the people. He further disclosed that the dispensary would offer medical services at subsided prices for residents to have better access to health care including those from low-income communities.
“We will make sure the prices for medicine and consultation are reduced and fair to everyone so you can enjoy the services offered in the facility,” he said.
He informed that the small fee the residents would pay is meant for the small expenditures in the hospital such as paying cleaners for smooth operations of the facility.
Prof Njoka who revealed that the dispensary lies on 500 acres of land donated to the university by the Kairini community, said that the residents would enjoy a day of free treatment and a month of free consultation as a way of giving thanks.
“We are thankful to the people of Kairini for giving us this land to be used by the university. We have constructed this facility as a way of giving back to the people,” he said.
Njoka noted that a hospital is a crucial facility in development and the National Government prioritizes such projects adding that it fulfills its mandate through institutions such as Chuka University.
The university plans to construct a modern hospital on 300 acres of the land in Kairini farm which will improve health care in the area and also create employment for residents.
Area residents led by Pastor Nyaga Mutegi of East Africa Pentecostal Church lauded the University for the construction of the dispensary which they said would be a relief not only to the people of Kairini but to the neighbouring communities as well.
“We appreciate Chuka University for bringing this facility here. We used to go all the way to Ishara or Chuka to receive treatment which was very expensive and tiresome especially incidents to do with snake bites which are very common here,” they said.
By Sharon Gitau
