Elgeyo Marakwet County government has embarked on the construction of a Sh55 million mother-and-child facility at the Iten County Referral Hospital.
Speaking when he commissioned the construction of the facility Governor Alex Tolgos said the project was funded by the World Bank under the Kenya Devolution Support Programme (KDSP).
The governor said the facility will consist of a two-storey building with a theatre and eight maternity wards with an 80-bed capacity.
Tolgos however said the funding will only cater for the structure while the county government is expected to ensure that the facility is well equipped to offer services to mothers and newborn babies.
Tolgos said the county will work closely with donors and other well-wishers to purchase equipment for the facility which is expected to be completed in the next six months.
Cherangany/Chebororwa ward MCA Tich Cheboi who was present during the function said that the county assembly will allocate adequate funds for equipping the unit once it is complete.
The project is expected to support the Linda Mama delivery programme which offers free maternity services for all expectant mothers.
Governor Tolgos said that the number of expectant mothers delivering at health facilities within the county has increased consistently since the inception of the Linda Mama programme.
He added that the government will continue improving services offered at the Iten County Referral Hospital by hiring more staff which will include the renewal of contracts for interns previously working at the facility.
The project is part of the improvement of three other facilities that were given priority in the 2021/22 budget including Kapcherop, Chesoi and Kaptarakwa Health facilities.
Governor Tolgos added that the construction and equipping of the facilities will continue saying this was one way of supporting devolution by bringing services to the grassroots to decongest the big health facilities.
By Walter Kibet and Alice Wanjiru
