KENYA – Kenya has commissioned the construction of a KES150 million (US$1.28M) eye hospital at the Sibanga market situated in Cherangani Constituency under the Trans-Nzoia County Assembly to benefit residents in surrounding areas following an increase of eye problems cases in the county.
The hospital under construction is expected to be one of its kind with four operation rooms equipped with modern eye testing and operation equipment that will enhance eye care services at the Kitale eye satellite clinic at the Kitale County Hospital.
The eye clinic will also reduce the time taken and resources previously used by some eye patients and their families to travel to Kitale County Hospital in search for routine eye care services thus ensuring patients are able to access comprehensive medical services.
In addition, the health facility is projected to be one of the biggest projects in the region that will serve beyond Tran-Nzoia County including the counties of West Pokot, Elgeyo Marakwet, Turkana and parts of Uasin-Gishu with support from donors.
The eye hospital construction comes at a time when a health report found out that poor performance by students in schools is sometime contributed by poor eyesight while in class thus the Centre is going to help screen the school going children to help avert the problem.
Former Cherangani Member of Parliament, Wesley Kipchumba Korir assured that not only with the hospital lead to improvement of eye health care in the county but also residents of Cherangani will be advantaged to benefit more through the creation of job opportunities during the construction.
“The construction of the hospital has a time frame of one and a half years and it is expected to be complete and its doors open for operationalization by the end of 2023. The visitors who work in one of major companies in the USA are commitment to fully furnishing the eye clinic,” Korir added.
MEDS delivers a consignment of medical drugs
Meanwhile, Nyamira County Governmnt in Kenya has received a consignment of drugs valued at KES20M (US$170,000) for county hospitals from the Mission for Essential Drugs and Supply (MEDS).
The move follows failure by the state-owned medical corporation Kenya Medical Supply Agency (KEMSA) to deliver procured commodities in record time which compelled the department of health to quickly source for a different supplier.
The assorted drugs and equipment delivered to Nyamira County include analgesics, powdered gloves, antibiotics and fluids that can be used in daily operations in maternity and theatre wards.
Nyamira Deputy Governor Dr. James Gesami explained that despite the county making payments in good time and traditionally procuring drugs from KEMSA, unprecedented delays compelled the officials to look for an alternative agency to supply the county with urgently needed medical commodities.
“The shortage of drugs in our hospitals was unbearable and though expensive in comparison to KEMSA, we had to source for funds and procure some to ensure that patients are attended to efficiently and they access necessary drugs to save their lives while waiting for KEMSA’s supply,” added Dr. Gesami.
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