By Primerose Omoto
Kwale County government has launched five new development projects at the Msambweni County Referral Hospital in a bid to uplift the hospital’s status
The referral hospital now has a functioning oxygen-making plant, drug store, reverse osmosis water treatment plant, a 60-bed new maternity wing, and a renovated mortuary complete with a new waiting bay.
The projects have been constructed under Governor Fatuma Achani’s tenure since she came into office in September 2022.
The hospital provides healthcare services to approximately 2200 outpatients and 205 inpatients with a previous capacity of 155 beds.
With the new drug store, the hospital will have enough medicine supply to cater for illnesses treated at the hospital.
The supply will be sufficient for the growing population of residents seeking health services at the referral hospital.
Speaking after launching the new projects Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani said her government has done some major and minor renovations at the hospital to give it a new look.
“The new maternity block is fitted with modern hospital beds so as to ensure our mothers who are giving birth have a conducive place,” said Achani.
She said the new drugstore is meant to ensure that medicines are in a safe and sure place and in continuous supply.
“We have increased the health workforce in the County to 3000 medical practitioners. We have raised the number of ambulances to 16. Similar developments should be expected in Kinango, Lunga Lunga, and Samburu hospitals,” she added.
The governor also noted that the county government has upgraded the renal unit in Msambweni and Kinango to provide better care for patients requiring dialysis in the County adding that there is a dedicated parcel of land for the construction of a 12-bed capacity private ward and a neonatal unit for newborn babies.
Achani was accompanied by the cabinet secretary in charge of Health Susan Nakumincha.
Nakumincha said the liquid oxygen plant has been built complete with 305 cylinders to provide the hospital with a steady supply of oxygen.
She said the reverse osmosis water purification plant will solve the long-standing challenge of lack of clean water for dialysis patients.
