Kwale County Government is working to address maternal and newborn health disparities and eliminate maternal mortality in the coastal county.
Governor Fatuma Atchani said the devolved government is committed to improving the quality of maternal, newborn and child health care.
Atchani said access to care in a health facility is critical to maternal and newborn health.
“As a devolved sector, we are committed to increasing access and coverage of maternal and child health services to address the many challenges women and newborns face during and after childbirth,” she said. said.
The governor was speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony of a 36.2 million lice modern obstetric neonatal unit and children’s health complex at the Msambweni Referral Hospital.
She said that due to the increasing demand for newborns requiring intensive medical care in Kwale, the county government is working with M-PESA Foundation to build a maternity and neonatal ward and children's health complex at Msambweni Referral Hospital. He said he had secured 36.2 million lice. It is located in Msambweni sub-county.
Atchani said this state-of-the-art neonatal unit facility is expected to serve all residents in the county and improve the quality of maternal and newborn health care in the region.
“We appealed to the Safaricom Foundation for support and they responded well to our call and today we received Sh30 million which will go toward the construction of a neonatal unit at Msambweni Hospital here. ” she said, adding that the county government had topped it up with six shillings. 2000000.
Mr Atchani said that towards achieving universal health coverage, the provincial government will continue to collaborate with the private sector to provide quality maternal and newborn health services.
The governor said this new facility will go a long way in alleviating the myriad health challenges that pregnant women have faced over the years.
Mr Atchani expressed his gratitude to Safaricom Foundation for supporting the county government in the implementation of the project, adding that the new facility will bring about a major change in terms of delivery of health services to patients across the county and will continue to operate for three months. It is expected to be completed within the next few days.
“This project, undertaken in collaboration with M-PESA Foundation, is a testament to my commitment to improving maternal and child health care across Kwale,” Atchani said, adding that achieving universal health coverage requires improving the health system. He added that the scope of application needs to be expanded. Intervention quality and equity.
She said the specialized building would be equipped with modern equipment that would help in reducing maternal mortality in Kwale.
Coastal county leaders revealed the new facility will feature state-of-the-art facilities including an intensive care unit (ICU), high dependency unit (HDU), kangaroo room, laundry area and staff lounge.
“The ICU and HDU are fully equipped with state-of-the-art medical equipment and technology to provide the best possible care for newborns, and the Kangaroo Room provides a cozy and comfortable space for mothers and babies to bond. “We provide an environment,” she said. she said.
Additionally, she said the laundry area will keep all linens and clothing clean and sanitary, and the staff lounge will provide a comfortable space for hospital staff to rest and recharge.
“My administration is dedicated to ensuring that all newborns receive appropriate care and support from day one to increase child survival after birth,” she said, adding that the county government She added that she would strive to improve care for women and women. baby during pregnancy and birth.
She said Msambweni Referral Hospital would employ qualified health workers and appropriate medical equipment to achieve the objective of eliminating maternal mortality in the coastal region.
Anne Erickson, Director of Safaricom Foundation, said the group is partnering with Kwale County on various development projects involving agriculture, education, water and other areas of economic empowerment.
“The MPESA Foundation has invested over N316 million in various development and community projects in Kwale over the past few years and we will continue to work with devolved governments for posterity,” she said. Ta.
The governor said the Safaricom Foundation team would return to Kwale in three months and commission the installation of a new obstetric and neonatal care unit at Msambweni Referral Hospital, with an emergency room, recovery room and delivery ward.
Written by Hussein Abdullahi
