Murang'a: Murang'a Governor, Dr. Irungu Kang'ata, has assured local residents of continued access to quality healthcare services despite a sharp rise in the number of patients seeking medical attention at the Murang'a Level 5 Hospital. In a public notice, Kang'ata stated that the facility is currently attending to between 1,500 and 2,000 outpatients daily, while the number of those admitted stands at 500, which is the hospital's full bed capacity.
According to Kenya News Agency, the increase is attributed to the county's recent expansion of health infrastructure and an influx of patients from neighboring counties seeking better medical care in Murang'a. 'The surge in patients is a clear sign that our investment in healthcare is bearing fruit. We are committed to ensuring that every resident receives timely and quality medical services,' added the governor.
To address the growing demand, Kang'ata announced several urgent measures including the reorganization of emergency staff, recalling health workers on leave, and deploying marshals to guide patients within the facility. He added that the county has opened new wards and strengthened linkages with other Level 4 hospitals within the county to redistribute patient flow and ease pressure on the referral hospital.
Laboratory and radiology departments have also been directed to operate 24 hours a day to enhance service delivery. 'We are doing everything possible to make sure no patient is turned away. The County Assembly has also been requested to fast-track the Locum Policy to enable temporary hiring of medical staff during such emergencies,' Kang'ata noted.
The governor further revealed plans to recruit new medical personnel, although he acknowledged that this will be limited by the current wage bill. He encouraged residents to also seek services from nearby public health facilities such as Muriranjas Hospital, Mugoiri, Mukuyu, and Kiangage dispensaries in Kiharu Constituency, which have recently been upgraded and assigned additional health workers.
'We are decentralizing services so that every Murang'a resident can access healthcare without congestion or delay,' he asserted. The governor further reaffirmed his administration's commitment to providing efficient and accessible healthcare to all residents in line with his development agenda.