The Newly constructed Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in Murang’a has received a boost after a local bank donated a ventilator among other specialized equipment.
Family Bank on Thursday handed over a ventilator worth Sh. 3 million, an ICU bed and monitors aimed to boost provision of critical health care in the unit.
Speaking during the occasion held outside the county offices, Family Bank’s Chief Executive (CEO) Officer Ms Rebecca Mbithi said the move by the financial institution is targeting to boost provision of better health care in public hospitals especially during this time the country is faced by Covid-19 pandemic.
Mbithi noted that the ventilator will boost service delivery in the newly constructed ICU in Murang’a County referral hospitals.
The CEO further noted they will continue to partner with the public sector on war against Covid-19 which has affected many economic sectors.
“The impact of Covid-19 has also affected financial institutions as the majority of our customers belong to small and medium enterprises and this has forced us to restructure our operations so as to take care of the difficulties faced by our clients,” noted Mbithi.
On his part Murang’a Governor Mwangi wa Iria lauded the bank saying it’s the only institution which has donated a ventilator to the ICU so far.
He observed that since operationalization of the unit almost two months ago, one patient who was an orphan has fully recovered.
“Our first patient in the ICU was an orphan who has been treated and now she is doing well. The patient was treated free of charge while she had been asked to pay close to Sh. 400, 000 by private sectors for admission,” observed Wa Iria.
The ICU, he said, will not only handle Covid-19 cases but all other health complications requiring intensive care treatment.
The governor noted that the ICU, which already has 35 beds and 20 ventilators, has a capacity of 50 beds requesting other well-wishers to partner with the county government to equip it to boost health provision in the county.
He observed that after completion of the unit, patients from Murang’a and neighbouring counties have been flocking the level-5 hospital for treatment.
“Murang’a Level-5 hospital has received many patients from neighbouring counties seeking treatment and we appreciate improvement in provision of health care in the facility.
Meanwhile, Wa Iria stated plans were underway to put up several specialized care hospitals to spare patients the agony of traveling to Nairobi-based medical facilities for specialized treatment.
“My administration is working to establish specialized hospitals. We are currently doing an orthopedic hospital at Kirwara in Gatanga and construction of a cancer centre has kicked off at Murang’a County referral hospital.
By Bernard Munyao
ICU in Murang’a gets a boost of new equipment
