KENYA – Chuka County Referral Hospital is set to be upgraded to a level 5 facility following President William Ruto’s directive.
The Ministry of Health has pledged to work with the County Government of Tharaka Nithi to support the Chuka County Referral Hospital to comply with Level 5 status.
Cabinet Secretary for Health, Dr Nakhumicha S. Wafula, toured the facility to assess its state of preparedness.
Accompanied by Tharaka Nithi Governor, H.E Muthomi Njuki, CS Wafula noted that the facility has made significant progress but emphasized the need for continued efforts to reach the upgraded status.
The Ministry of Health will provide support with necessary equipment, including CT scan and HDU machines. The county government is urged to prioritize their health budget to aid the facility in reaching level 5 compliance.
Governor Muthomi Njuki expressed gratitude for the national government’s continued support to county health facilities and pledged to work closely with the national government to achieve even more.
This exciting development marks a promising future for healthcare in Chuka County and sets a strong foundation for improved access to quality care.
KMTC Chuka campus handed over to national government
Meanwhile, the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) Chuka campus has been officially handed over to the national government, ending a long-standing dispute between the county and national governments.
The construction of the institution, which had stalled in 2015, has been under the jurisdiction of the county government and has been operating within the premises of Chuka University.
Cabinet Secretary for Health, Dr. Nakhumicha S. Wafula, received the facility from Tharaka Nithi Governor, Muthomi Njuki, in a ceremony attended by key stakeholders in the health sector.
In her remarks, the CS disclosed that the Ministry of Health has set aside KSH105 million (US$0.84m) for the completion and equipping of the facility, which will provide essential medical training to health professionals in the region.
Dr. Kelly Oluoch, the Chief Executive Officer of KMTC, was also in attendance and expressed his delight at the development. He stated that the completion of the campus will enable the institution to offer quality medical training to students, who will go on to serve the community and contribute to the growth of the health sector.
The handing over of the KMTC Chuka campus is a significant milestone in the efforts to improve access to quality medical training in Kenya.
The facility will provide a much-needed boost to the health sector in the region, as well as create job opportunities for the local community.
“The Kenya Medical Training College Chuka campus is a step in the right direction in addressing the shortage of health professionals in the country,” said the CS.
She said the government’s commitment to completing and equipping the facility will help to train a new generation of health professionals who will be better equipped to address the health needs of the population.
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