The Marsabit County government is applying every effort that would enable residents to access quality universal health care with ease.
Governor Mohamud Ali said construction and expansion of existing health facilities as well as a reliable ambulance service to accommodate the ever increasing demand for the essential service was a priority of his government.
Speaking in Sololo when he officiated at handing over ceremony of a 100 acre parcel of land to Star of Hope Association (SOHA) for the construction of a level 4 referral hospital at Makutano in Sololo sub-county, Governor Ali said equipping the health facilities that are spread across the county with drugs, personnel and medical gear was reliably being done.
The multi-million shillings project will be built in phases by SOHA in partnership with the county government of Marsabit on land donated by the local community.
Governor Ali said his administration has made great progress in the provision of quality health care to the residents adding that concerted effort was being made to take the essential service closer to the people.
The governor pointed out that the construction of the proposed hospital was in line with President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Big 4 Agenda that aims at reducing the disease burden on Kenyans through provision of quality universal healthcare.
“We are investing in the development of both infrastructure and personnel at all sub-county based hospitals to make service delivery more efficient,” said the governor.
The land donated by the community of Sololo would also provide space for the construction of a medical college.
Acknowledging the cordial private-government partnership between his administration and the organisation in health and education sectors, the governor assured the NGO of cooperation.
The county executive for health (CEC) Dr Jama Wolde announced plans by the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) to start a research centre in the neighbouringWalda location, a move he said would go a long way in enhancing research in health.
Marsabit county government has 70,000 poor residents under a comprehensive NHIF medical cover.
By Sebastian Miriti
