The Murang’a County government has allocated Sh10 million to complete Kirwara hospital building that has stalled for several years.
Governor Irungu Kang’ata has said the money will facilitate completion of the remaining works and procure some equipment to make the facility operational within one month.
The building, started more than five years ago, stalled after the previous county regime failed to pay the assigned contractor forcing him to withdraw his services.
The governor revealed that they have already awarded a tender to a new contractor to complete the building saying remaining works are minimal and can take less than a month.
Once completed, the 4-storey building will host inpatient wards, modern laboratory, X-ray unit among other facilities, thus making the health centre to upgrade to level-4 hospital.
Kang’ata noted the hospital will be a big step in taking health services closer to people considering people from Gatanga sub county are forced to seek healthcare in neighbouring Kiambu hospitals.
“We have set some money to complete this building which has been stalled for several years and we hope in a period of one month, the remaining works will be done and the facility will become operational,” said the governor during the launching of a physiotherapy centre at the health centre.
Having a level-4 hospital in Gatanga will reduce the pain of local residents who are forced to seek advanced treatment at Murang’a County Referral Hospital or Maragua Level-4 hospital.
Kang’ata underscored some achievements his administration has done in the health sector, listing the enhanced health cover of destitute families and support programmes of maternal health.
He added improvement in collection of revenue has enhanced delivery of service saying automation of tax collection has sealed loopholes thus enabling the devolved unit to have more resources for development.
Meanwhile, Kang’ata has ordered an investigation into the death of a mother, who died while giving birth at Maragua Level – 4 hospital last month.
Carolyne Wanjiku died while she was delivering through a Caesarian Section at the facility on March 16, but the infant survived.
Kang’ta who apologized on behalf of the hospital directed the county CEC for health to initiate investigation and establish what caused the death.
“My administration is geared to end maternal death and we want to know what really caused the death. If it was due to negligence or mistakes by the involved heath workers, the culprits will face disciplinary measures,” he added after donating Sh100, 000 to the bereaved family for nursing of the infant.
The governor stressed that the support maternal programme which was launched recently was aimed at protect lives of mothers and infants by ensuring expectant mothers deliver in hospitals.
“Delivering in hospitals is the safest way, but we cannot tolerate deaths of mothers and infants in our health facilities during the delivery process. Let’s investigate and establish what really transpired at the Maragua incident,” he added.
By Bernard Munyao
