NGPU
February 13, 2023
Health Services in Nakuru set to improve as President Ruto promises support
Health services in Nakuru County are set for an uplift after the National Government promised to complete the stalled Trauma Centre at the Nakuru Teaching and Referral Hospital (NTRH).
H. E. President William Ruto also promised to equip the complete Cancer Centre at the facility and help reduce the debts at the NTRH, Naivasha District Hospital and Gilgil Level 4 Hospital.
The Ministry of Health will also step in to equip Naivasha Hospital which was constructed by the Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen).
“We will sort out the Trauma Centre, Naivasha and Gilgil Hospitals so that the people of Nakuru can get better health services. We will also come here to sort out the building for the Cancer Centre,” he said on a tour of the NTRH late afternoon today.
President Ruto who was accompanied by Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Health Services Cabinet Secretary, Ms Susan Nakhumicha and Lands Cabinet Secretary Zachary Njeru toured the stalled Trauma Centre, the Linarc Radiotherapy and the stalled Cancer Centre Building. He was taken around the NTRH by Governor Susan Kihika, County Executive Committee Member (CECM), Ms Jaqueline Osoro and Hospital Medical Superintendent, Dr Aisha Maina.
Governor Kihika had sought President Ruto’s support in clearing the mounting debts facing both NTRH and Naivasha District Hospital to the tune of Kshs 500 million and Kshs 400 million respectively.
“Your Excellency, when we came into office, we found the majority of our hospitals with huge debts. The Nakuru Teaching and Referral Hospital is indebted to the tune of Kshs500 million while Naivasha District Hospital has a debt of Kshs400 million. While this is the situation, the conditional grant for NTRH has been reduced from Kshs. 393 million to Kshs. 200 million in the current financial year. We seek your support to reduce the indebtedness of our hospitals through budgetary allocations and grants,” she said.
The Trauma Centre, which has stalled, was commissioned in 2012 by President Mwai Kibaki at the cost of Kshs. 89.9 million. The Government, through the Ministry of Special Programs, provided Kshs. 63 million while the Ministry of Health, was meant to give Kshs 20 million from the proceeds of the Sachangwani/Nakumatt Fire Fundraiser in which a total of Kshs. 70 million was raised.
“We seek your intervention to have part of that fund channelled to the County by the Ministry of Health to complete the Trauma Centre,” said Governor Kihika.
The Governor also requested President Ruto to help with the completion of the building at the NTRH to facilitate the installation of the Linarc Radiotherapy. The President said the National Government will complete the building and assist in the equipping of the Outpatient unit at the referral hospital.
Governor Kihika further sought the National Government’s assistance to equip the newly built Naivasha hospital by KenGen.
“Your Excellency Sir, the Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) constructed and completed a very beautiful hospital building at Mai Mahiu, in Naivasha. The plan, Your Excellency, was that the Ministry of Health will assist to equip the hospital with modern equipment, including a modern maternity wing for our mothers. We seek your support and request that the Ministry of Health sets aside funds for equipping the hospital in the coming Financial Year,” she said.
Governor Kihika was left with the task of equipping the Level 2 hospital in Salgaa, one of the blackspots in the country.
“We will handle the Salgaa hospital on our own,” she said while taking the President on the tour of the NTRH.
Governor Kihika has made the provision of quality health services in the county a priority through the timely supply of medicine and medicine accessories, upgrading of hospitals and modernization of healthcare through the adoption of new technologies.
