Residents of the Antubeiga location in Njia ward, Igembe Central, have a reason to smile after the construction of a maternal ward.
The project, which commenced in 2018, is expected to be complete before July 2023.
Johana Kamau, the nurse in charge of the dispensary, said that it has been a great burden to women in labour pains since they were forced to seek maternal healthcare services from Nyambene Level 4 Hospital and Kangeta.
He maintained that the facility is expected to offer quality services that respond to the needs of the residents.
Kamau noted that the Member of County Assembly in Njia ward, Ali Mwenda, is working hard to ensure the project is completed on time and promised to launch the facility together with the Cabinet Secretary of Health.
He added that the facility shall contain a waiting bay, a nursing station, a post-natal ward, an anti-natal ward, and a labor ward.
“The maternal ward will have 12 bed capacity and three beds in the delivery room, meaning that three mothers can give birth at the same time,” he said.
He, however, requested that the county government hasten the project so that mothers cannot suffer for a long time and deploy more qualified nurses to enhance efficient service delivery.
The residents, who couldn’t hide their joy, said that the facility has come a long way in easing the burden of traveling and walking long distances to access maternal health services, adding that mothers giving birth at their places of residence will greatly reduce.
Hellen Kalung’e, a resident of the Antubeiga location, said that the cries of mothers have been heard, the distance and cost have been reduced, and she is therefore expecting a high rate of safe childbirth.
The facility will offer relief to many women who had to walk long distances previously to access maternity care services, and the cases of maternal and child deaths will also decrease.
Monica Kawiria, also a resident of Antubeiga, maintained that pregnant women in the area have been faced with a myriad of complications during labour, and some end up losing their lives due to delays caused by traveling long distances to seek maternal healthcare.
The officer further added that the dispensary has been receiving drugs at intervals of two weeks from the sub-county and county governments, and they are working hard to ensure effective and efficient services to the members of the society.
By Kamanja Maeria and Edith Mwendwa
