Fort Ternan Level IV Hospital To Get State-Of-The-Art Maternal And Newborn Unit
Once complete, the Fort Ternan Mother and Child Health Unit will play a huge role in reducing maternal and infant mortality in Kipkelion West Sub-County, signifying the commitment of the government to people-centred development and easier access to quality healthcare services.
M-PESA Foundation Territory Business Lead Sarah Choge. Photo/Courtesy
By Ruth Sang
Mothers-to-be and their newborns in Kipkelion West Sub-County, Kericho County, would enjoy safer deliveries and improved access to critical maternal healthcare services following the commencement of construction of the Fort Ternan Mother and Child Health Unit at Fort Ternan Level IV Hospital.
The new building is part of the overall strategy intended for strengthening primary healthcare that cuts through health infrastructure for improved maternal and child health services in Kericho County. This project is being executed as a collaboration between the county government and the M-PESA Foundation to address age-long gaps in maternal and newborn care in this region.
At the formal launch of the grounding ceremony for the modern maternal and newborn unit, Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot pointed out that the project would play a key role in enhancing the maternal and child health outcomes in Kipkelion West Sub-County. Cheruiyot observed that the construction of the facility would save lives by affording the expectant mothers and newborns access to quality care nearer to their communities.
He noted that strengthening primary healthcare facilities was key to decongesting the major referral hospitals and ensuring critical services were available at the local level. The senatorial representative for Kericho further noted that health being a devolved function suffers from waning investments by county governments in modern infrastructure, skilled health personnel and reliable medical supplies towards achieving a lasting and meaningful impact.
Ceremony for handing over the construction site to the M-PESA Foundation was led by Kericho Governor Dr. Eric Mutai, who reiterated the county government commitment to healthcare infrastructure as part of its wider development agenda. He elaborated that the county had already invested in the modern theatre and Radiology Unit at Fort Ternan Hospital while noting that the addition of the Mother and Child Health unit would further accelerate the upgrading of the facility to a fully-fledged Level IV hospital.
Governor Mutai maintained that the partnership with the M-PESA Foundation continues to complement the county investments and uplift the quality of healthcare services to the residents. He indicated that the new unit would strengthen the hospital’s capacity to handle maternal and newborn cases, hence decreasing the movement of patients to seek services far from home.
Sarah Choge, the M-PESA Foundation Territory Business Lead, commented they are very proud to partner with the county government on a project that would provide modern, life-saving facilities for mothers and newborns throughout the area. She said the ceremonial activities marking the groundbreaking included unveiling the official project plaque, symbolic excavation works, and tree planting for a clean, green, and healthy hospital environment.
Once complete, the Fort Ternan Mother and Child Health Unit will play a huge role in reducing maternal and infant mortality in Kipkelion West Sub-County, signifying the commitment of the government to people-centred development and easier access to quality healthcare services.
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