Nairobi: Oloilalei residents in Kajiado South Constituency are set to benefit from essential healthcare services following the commissioning of a new hospital in the area. The Sh200-million Chief Ole Mpaa Health Centre, constructed by the Kajiado County government, was officially opened by Governor Joseph ole Lenku.
According to Kenya News Agency, Phase One of the health facility comprises an Outpatient section, a Maternity wing, Laboratory services, and a Radiology section among other critical clinical services. Speaking during the commissioning ceremony for the health centre, Governor Lenku stated that the construction of the hospital is a partial fulfillment of his pledges to the people of Kajiado.
Governor Lenku emphasized, ‘This is another milestone in bringing healthcare services closer to the unreached in rural Kajiado as we strive to ensure that communities living in the rural areas are at par with those living in urban areas with regard to development.’ He further remarked that the second phase of the hospital, which includes inpatient services, a pediatric wing, and a full-fledged maternity wing, will commence soon.
The health facility will also include a training component where one local student will be trained per year at the Tenwek Mission Hospital College. For years, the locals endured trekking a treacherous 30-kilometre journey to the nearest Imbirikani Hospital, risking their lives on rough terrain, especially the expectant mothers.
Ann Ntasikoi, a resident in Oloilalei, expressed her relief, saying, ‘I am elated that we now have a maternity unit nearby. We used to trek long distances to access health services at Lenkisim. Sometimes labour pains struck at night and we were forced to risk an encounter with elephants on the way to the hospital risking our lives.’
Elizabeth Tantaine, another resident, also appreciated the county government for the development, noting that it will help in improving the quality of care for mothers and their newborn babies. ‘Due to the distance we had to trek before getting antenatal and postnatal services, many mothers used to forego antenatal checkups and taking their babies for monthly clinics. Now with a health facility just a few kilometres away, they will not miss such essential services,’ she shared.