Kirinyaga Governor Waiguru commissions new dispensary in Mwea

Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has opened a new dispensary at Ngang’a village in Mwea constituency to enhance access to affordable healthcare.

Umoja Dispensary will now offer the much needed relief for area residents who have been travelling long distances to access healthcare services.

The dispensary will serve about 4,500 locals from Ngang’a, Umoja, Mbingo-ini and Kiandegwa villages who previously sought services at Rurii-Kiandegwa dispensary or Mutithi and Ciagini Health Centers.

While presiding over the dispensary’s opening ceremony, Governor Waiguru said that the completion and operationalization of the facility marked a great milestone in her quest for improve primary healthcare provision in the county.

“We have been simultaneously undertaking the completion and equipping of around 20 dispensary projects and Umoja is one of the six that we have recently perationalized, with the rest being lined up for launch in the next two months,” said the governor said.

She noted that when residents have a health facility within proximity, they won’t have to waste time and money in search of healthcare services, which will in turn allow them to attend to other socio-economic activities.

She said residents will access outpatient services, anti-natal and post-natal services, mother and child health care services, pharmacy and laboratory services among others at the dispensary.

“They will also get early detection of ailments that may require further treatment and they can be referred to advanced facilities in a timely manner,” she pointed out.

She said that with good primary healthcare at the dispensaries, there will be less congestion at other hospitals which will be left to handle more complex health matters.

The governor added that towards the achievement of universal health coverage, her administration has invested heavily in infrastructural development and equipping of various health facilities.

She cited her flagship project; Kerugoya Level Five Hospital complex which will soon open its doors to residents. The complex has a 342 bed capacity inpatient wing, an ICU, a HDU and an oncology ward. Other amenities include emergency and casualty department, maternity, modern surgical theatres, pediatric, surgical and medical wards, palliative care unit and a pharmacy.

It also has an oxygen plant from which oxygen will be piped to all the beds. The county government is also upgrading Kianyaga and Kimbimbi Hospitals from Level 3 to Level 4 facilities.