President Uhuru Kenyatta commissioned two hospitals in Kibera on Wednesday afternoon.
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Nairobi Metropolitan Service (NMS) Director-General Mohamed Badi accompanied Uhuru.
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This is part of the ongoing government program to expand access to healthcare by Nairobi City residents.
The president said the new Kibra and Undugu Highrise health facilities would help decongest Mbagathi and Kenyatta National hospitals.
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Uhuru said the hospitals developed by the NMS are part of the ongoing rollout of the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) component of the Big 4 development agenda.
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“We move forward towards achieving universal healthcare for all. A universal healthcare as we now call it UHC is one of the four key national development targets with an aspiration that all persons in Kenya will be able to access quality and affordable essential services that they need for their health and wellbeing through a single unified benefit package without the risk of financial catastrophe,” Uhuru said.
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Uhuru also said that despite Nairobi being the country’s capital, with a population of almost five million people, over 40 per cent of residents rely on the Kenyatta National Hospital as their primary healthcare provider.
The president said Nairobi NMS had completed 13 hospitals out of the 28 hospitals being constructed across the city’s 17 sub-counties as part of the government’s march towards attaining UHC in Nairobi.
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“This program has now expanded to target the construction of 28 new hospitals and the expansion as well as the rehabilitation of four more hospitals across the county."
“We have so far commissioned a total of 13 hospitals, the first being in Uthiru Level three hospital, which we commissioned in February 2021,” he said.
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The president also launched a fleet of ambulances that will enhance the delivery of emergency healthcare in Kibera.
Uhuru called for unity of purpose among Kenyans, noting that the country enjoys tranquillity that has enabled prompt development projects since the handshake between himself and Raila.
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Raila said unveiling the new hospitals was a timely intervention and said the facilities will offer quality and affordable healthcare to Kibera residents. He commended Uhuru for his development track record.
"We have seen a lot of development projects taking place and we appreciate," Raila said.
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During his Kibera visit, the president also inspected several infrastructural projects and launched the rehabilitation of Uhuru Park. The public park has been earmarked for transformation into a modern recreational facility equipped with art studios, green areas and other social amenities.
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