A Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) is set to be opened at Tseikuru in Mwingi region of Kitui County.
The KMTC Board Chairman, Prof. Phillip Kaloki speaking while launching construction of the new facility in Tseikuru on Monday, said the medical training college will help in addressing problems of health services being faced by thousands of locals in Mwingi North, who are forced to travel over 100 kilometers to seek medical services at the Mwingi Level 4 hospital.
Other leaders who attended the function including Wiper party leader, Kalonzo Musyoka praised the national government decision to set up the college in his home turf saying it will bring services closer to the people.
“Considering that Mwingi North region is a marginalized area, establishment of such a crucial health institution is a great boost in addressing the wanting state of heath care services which have been affecting locals for years,” said Musyoka.
The Wiper party also lauded the KMTC Board chair for initiating major developments projects countrywide, since his appointment to the position.
“Previously we had a single dispensary in the area serving thousands of residents in half of the Mwingi North constituency, before the facility was recently upgraded to Tseikuru sub county hospital. I call upon the KMTC board to hasten the construction so that by end of next year, the first intake is conducted,” said the Wiper Party leader.
The former Vice president and currently the South Sudan peace envoy, further called on the Kitui county government to ensure proper functioning of all health facilities in the region, owing to the recent doctors’ strike which had paralyzed normal operations in its public hospitals.
Musyoka further urged residents to invest in construction of housing facilities in order to accommodate numerous number of students expected to join the institution, staff members and other investors who are expected to flock the area once the college is fully operational.
Meanwhile, the project got a major boost from the area Mwingi North MP, Paul Nzengu said the KMTC to be opened at Tseikuru who also graced the occasion, when he promised to allocate Sh.25 million from the local NG- CDF kitty to kick start the construction.
“I urge residents to support the upcoming facility and own it, as it will automatically improve lives of our people. I will immediately channel the said amount to start construction of classrooms,” Nzengu assured the constituents.
On his part, Prof. Kaloki said the institution was born out a meeting he had with the Wiper Party leader who requested for establishment of the facility in the region to address the problem of health service faced by locals.
The chair said that to actualize this project, the KMTC Board has set aside Sh.100 million for construction of learning facilities on a 25 acre piece of land donated by the community to the government.
He stated that numerous courses would be introduced in the new institution ranging from nursing and orthopedic courses among others.
The county has two other KMTC campuses in Kitui and Mwingi towns, with a student enrollment of about 1000 and 500 respectively.
By Denson Mututo
