Ministry to invest Sh1.7bn in stalled health facilities
Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero (2nd right), Health Cabinet Secretary Cleopa Mailu, Pumwani hospital chairperson Wambani Sidika and health Deputy Director of Medical Services Bernard Muya inspect the condition of Nyayo Wards on January 19, 2016. PHOTO | ROBERT NGUGI | NATION MEDIA GROUP | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Dr Mailu said a technical working group had been formed to oversee the completion of the facilities in a bid to improve health services in the county and ease the burden on Kenyatta National Hospital.
- Speaking on Tuesday during a tour of the facilities with Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero, the Health CS Cleopa Mailu said he expects the Pumwani Maternity Nyayo Wards and Korogocho General Hospital Wards to be ready for use by mid-2017.
- A tour of the stalled Pumwani Maternity Nyayo Wards showed that construction was nearly complete when the project was abandoned. The walls are now dilapidated, windows broken and grass in the compound overgrown.
The Ministry of Health will invest Sh1.7 billion to complete two health facilities whose construction stalled over 25 years ago, Health Cabinet Secretary Cleopa Mailu has said.
Speaking on Tuesday during a tour of the facilities with Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero, Dr Mailu said he expects the Pumwani Maternity Nyayo Wards and Korogocho General Hospital wards to be ready for use by mid-2017.
Construction work on the facilities began in 1987 but stalled for unclear reasons.
The Pumwani Maternity Nyayo Wards, with a 300-bed capacity, will be revamped at a cost of Sh544 million.
Once complete, the wards, which were meant to ease congestion at the maternity hospital, will be turned into a trauma centre.
The Korogocho Hospital Nyayo Wards, a project of the national government, with a bed capacity of 324, were set to be built at a cost of Sh1.2 billion. Their construction resumed in 2012 and they will serve as a general hospital.
Dr Mailu said a technical working group had been formed to oversee the completion of the facilities in a bid to improve health services in the county and ease the burden on Kenyatta National Hospital.
"Our aim is to ensure services reach the people and that is also the spirit of devolution. But we cannot do this if we don't have enough health facilities which are well equipped," he said.
GRABBED LAND
Dr Kidero said private developers had grabbed part of the land meant for the expansion of the Pumwani Nyayo Wards.
"Initially, this compound was about six acres but what has remained today is less than two acres. We will engage the National Land Commission to ensure it is reverted to us," he said.
A tour of the stalled Pumwani Maternity Nyayo Wards showed that construction was nearly complete when the project was abandoned. The walls are now dilapidated, windows broken and grass in the compound overgrown.
A Chinese contractor was on site at the Korogocho Health Centre when the leaders visited the site.
And speaking at City Hall on Tuesday, county health executive Bernard Muia said Kogorocho, Mama Lucy, Pumwani and Mbagathi hospitals will be elevated to Level Five status in two years.
Dr Mailu, Dr Kidero, Principal Secretary Nicholas Muraguri and Deputy Governor Jonathan Mueke visited the facilities on Tuesday.
