Construction work has begun on a Sh114.48 million medical microwave waste facility at Mwatate Sub-county Hospital, pooling funding from the National Government’s Ministry of Health (MoH) and the Taita Taveta County Government with support from Belgium.
Attending the groundbreaking ceremony at Mwatate Sub-County Hospital, Taita Taveta County Governor, Andrew Mwadime, detailed that the devolved unit will give out Sh14.48 million to go towards the facility’s construction with Sh100 million set to procure equipment and operationalize the facility coming from the MoH with support from the government of Belgium.
The Governor further expressed gratitude to the National Government and the Government of Belgium, underscoring the importance of partnership towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by equipping and developing health facilities, at the grassroots.
According to Gift Mkaya, County Executive Committee Member for Health Services, the waste facility will utilize non-burn technology, to treat and safely dispose of healthcare waste, a cost-effective and environmentally friendly process.
In efforts to modernize and upgrade health services at the hospital, which serves a massive chunk of poor and low-income earners, the National Government, working closely with the county government, has in the past funded the modernization of an ICU Centre and renovated the Mother and Childcare Unit.
Overall, the County has benefitted from several key healthcare infrastructure projects undertaken under the stewardship of the National Government, with Moi County Referral Hospital-Voi, getting a multi-million eye care centre and an ultra-modern Cancer Centre in recent years.
By Arnold Linga Masila
