Vihiga: A Sh60 million Maternal and Newborn Child Health Complex is to be constructed in Vihiga County within 32 weeks in a bid to reduce maternal and infant mortality rate. Speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction, the Chair M-Pesa Foundation Joseph Ogutu said the Foundation is offering Sh60 million for the construction of a 40-bed capacity health complex.
According to Kenya News Agency, Ogutu added that the Health Complex would consist of a caesarian section theatre, a three-bed delivery room, a 12-bed antenatal ward, a 20-bed postnatal ward, an eight-bed newborn unit, a reception area, a nursing station, a pharmacy, and equipment for medical gas supply. He further stated that M-Pesa Foundation would provide 1,000 tree seedlings for planting to avert the effects of climate change.
Ogutu asked the contractor to use locally available resources and local people to provide skilled and unskilled labour. He commended community health promoters for their efforts, saying that plans are underway to offer them special training on health matters.
Vihiga County Governor Dr. Wilber Ottichilo expressed gratitude to M-Pesa Foundation for choosing Vihiga County Referral Hospital for the construction of the Maternal and Newborn Child Health Complex, stating that this would help ease congestion in the main hospital. Dr. Ottichilo encouraged community health promoters to ensure they take pregnant women for safe delivery in health centres to reduce maternal and infant mortality rate.
He added that the Maternal and Newborn Health Complex would not only serve Vihiga County but also the neighbouring counties. A community health promoter, Jackline Munanga, praised M-Pesa and the county government for this initiative, emphasizing that expectant women would be able to deliver in a private environment.
Munanga added that the health complex would serve women and children well since they would not be mixed with other patients in the main hospital, thus preventing the contraction of other infectious diseases. The country’s maternal mortality rate lies at 178 per 100,000, and that of Vihiga County is 75 per 100,000 births, while the country’s infant mortality rate is 12 per 1,000 births, and that of Vihiga County is 10 per 1,000 births.
M-Pesa Foundation has implemented eleven other projects in the county, including renovation and refurbishment of Gimoi Primary School and groundbreaking for the construction of Chekombero Special School.