Nakuru: Nakuru County Governor, Susan Kihika, has reaffirmed her administration's commitment to improving healthcare access in rural areas by upgrading and expanding existing health facilities. Speaking during a meeting with opinion leaders from Kuresoi North Sub-County at St. Joseph minor seminary hall during the weekend, the governor said the facility, located in Kiptororo Ward, is now 35 percent complete.
According to Kenya News Agency, the Governor expressed satisfaction with the progress recorded in the ongoing construction of the Kuresoi North Sub-County Hospital with an 80-bed capacity. The hospital is expected to be significant for residents of the ward and surrounding areas and is expected to offer a wide range of medical services under one roof. Once complete, the hospital will have a modern maternity ward, a fully equipped theatre, outpatient services, a pharmacy, laboratory facilities, and an X-ray unit.
The County boss stated that this development will reduce the long distances residents currently travel to seek specialized treatment. 'We are working with speed to ensure that the people of Kiptororo and the greater Kuresoi North Sub-County have access to quality healthcare within their locality. No mother should have to travel far to deliver safely and no patient should miss timely treatment due to distance,' Kihika said.
In addition to the new hospital, the county government has operationalized the long-stalled Githima Dispensary, which is now providing essential health services to the local community. The facility's activation marks a milestone in ensuring that residents have immediate access to primary healthcare, especially in emergencies.
Governor Kihika also used the occasion to urge residents to register in large numbers with the newly established Social Health Authority (SHA). She said the scheme would ensure affordable healthcare for all registered members, in line with the government's push for universal health coverage. 'SHA is your ticket to quality and affordable healthcare. Let us embrace it so that we can all enjoy the benefits,' she told the gathering.
The governor's prioritization of healthcare services comes as part of a broader development agenda aimed at uplifting the social and economic well-being of Nakuru County residents. With the ongoing expansion of health infrastructure projects, residents of Kuresoi North are optimistic that they will soon have access to quality medical services they have missed for long.