The national government has expressed its commitment to continue supporting the health sector in Busia County.
Speaking during an inspection tour of a 96-bed male surgical ward constructed by the Ministry of Health through the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) at Busia County Referral Hospital on Wednesday, the Principal Secretary in the State Department of Medical Services, Harry Kimutai, confirmed that the facility is 100% complete.
“We have confirmed that the construction of the facility is complete and it is now ready for use,’ he said, noting that it requires some equipment to operate effectively.
Kimutai asked the County Government of Busia to furnish the Ministry with a list of the required items so that the provision of services can be carried out smoothly.
“We have been told that this facility has helped the county government increase the bed capacity of this hospital from 200 to 296,” he said, adding that the facility will reduce treatment costs for the locals who used to rely on private health facilities for treatment.
The Principal Secretary in the State Department of Defense, Patrick Mariru, thanked the Department of Medical Services for entrusting KDF with the construction of such facilities across the country.
He disclosed that KDF is constructing such buildings at Narumoru, Tumutumu, Samburu, Keroka, Eldas, and Githunguri.
‘We want to thank the Ministry of Health for trusting that we can construct such a building using the estimated cost and completing it within the expected time,’ he said.
Busia Governor Paul Otuoma commended the national government for its continued support of the development projects in the county.
Otuoma added that his administration will continue to partner with the government on priority areas to spur development.
He further said that apart from the additional personnel which his government is working on and the equipping of key areas, the hospital also needs proper certification to attain the status of a Level Five facility.
‘As much as here in the county there were pronouncements that the hospital is Level Five, we are not there yet,’ he said.
The male surgical ward was constructed by the Ministry of Health at a cost of Sh100 million.
By Salome Alwanda and Ochoko Gavin
