The Mpesa Foundation has recently unveiled a groundbreaking initiative aimed at revolutionizing healthcare provision in Kisumu County. Located within the premises of Ratta Hospital in Seme-Sub County, the newly inaugurated Mother and Child Hospital (MCH) stands as a beacon of hope, poised to significantly enhance healthcare outcomes in the region.
Equipped with a comprehensive array of facilities, the MCH boasts a nurse station, a spacious waiting bay featuring a dedicated children’s play area, two consultants’ rooms, a child welfare clinic (CWC) room, a fully stocked pharmacy complete with a storage area, a family planning room, an antenatal clinic (ANC) room, and meticulously maintained washrooms, among other essential amenities.
Mr. Peter Ndegwa, Chief Executive Officer of Safaricom, presided over the ceremonial handover of the facility to the Kisumu County government. Speaking on the occasion, Ndegwa emphasized the pivotal role the newly constructed unit is poised to play in augmenting bed capacity and daily deliveries within the area. He underscored the multifaceted services the maternal unit will provide, ranging from outpatient care to maternity services, comprehensive clinic care, childhood immunizations, and laboratory services, benefiting over 10,000 individuals.
In alignment with Safaricom’s overarching mission of transforming lives, Ndegwa affirmed the Mpesa Foundation’s unwavering commitment to collaborating with county governments to bolster service delivery, with a specific emphasis on maternal and child health initiatives.
Kisumu Governor, Prof. Anyang Nyong’o, expressed profound gratitude for the collaborative endeavor, recognizing its profound implications for healthcare accessibility and quality in the region. He hailed the project as a transformative milestone for the people of Seme and Kisumu County at large, underscoring its potential as a replicable model for other locales.
Governor Nyong’o disclosed that the county government had allocated an additional Sh. 6 million towards the renovation of the Old Ratta Hospital, underscoring their dedication to fortifying healthcare infrastructure.
Emphasizing the significance of the mother-and-child unit, Governor Nyong’o highlighted its role in providing specialized services tailored to mothers and infants, thereby combating the persistently high infant mortality rate in the area. He affirmed the facility’s mandate to extend its services beyond Seme Sub-County, revealing plans to establish similar wellness centers across all eight Sub-Counties.
Furthermore, Governor Nyong’o outlined the county’s substantial investments in the health sector, including the operation of 280 functional Community Health Units (CHUs) and the training of 2,998 Community Health Workers (CHWs). Noteworthy achievements include a marked increase in CHW visits to family households, with a significant emphasis on community case management of malaria, nurturing care, family planning, HPV, and cervical cancer screening.
In conclusion, Governor Nyong’o reiterated the government’s unwavering commitment to prioritizing the health and well-being of all residents, underscoring the pivotal role of collaborative initiatives in achieving this noble objective.
Kisumu City News
