A week after its commissioning by President William Ruto, the operationalization of Kerugoya Level 5 Referral Hospital has brought immense joy, relief, and optimism to the residents of Kirinyaga County.
Governor Anne Waiguru's flagship project, the hospital is a testament to the County Government's development blueprint, The Mountain Cities 2032, which designates Kerugoya Central as the 'Health and Wellness City.'
The hospital aims to provide accessible, high-quality healthcare services to the residents.
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With the official opening, the Outpatient Department, maternity ward (pre-natal and post-natal), Newborn unit, all theatres, gynaecological ward, and pharmacy have been relocated to the new complex.
This development allows residents to access specialized services within the county, eliminating the need to seek treatment outside the region.
The new facility has garnered praise from residents who have already sought treatment there.
Leah Mwihaki, a resident of Karumande who had just gone all the way from Karumande to bring her son from school, expressed her satisfaction, highlighting the efficiency and timeliness of the services.
She stated, "I am very impressed and even marvelled that a public hospital can have such standards. The fees have not changed despite the standards of the hospital changing, and we have gotten all the drugs prescribed to us. I am a happy mother."
David Nderi, another resident, shared his optimism, expressing his happiness with the services provided and the hospital's efficient management.
During the migration from the old facility to the new complex, Kerugoya Hospital manager Annette Njeri emphasized the positive reception from both staff and patients.
“We have moved the patients and they are very happy and most cannot even believe that they are in a public hospital," Njeri stated.
"Patients are no longer congested in one ward as each cube has only 6 beds and is self-contained."
Nancy Muthike, Kerugoya Hospital Nursing manager, spoke optimistically about the new complex, noting that it has increased the hospital's capacity and created a more spacious environment for nurses to tend to patients efficiently.
She expressed gratitude for the additional equipment, which will facilitate their work.
“The new complex has increased the capacity of the hospital and it is more spacious, meaning that nurses will now be able to tend to patients with ease. We are also grateful for the additional equipment that will make our work easier,” Muthike said.
The five-storey medical complex stands as a unique facility, not only within Kirinyaga County but also across the entire region.
It is poised to revolutionize the healthcare sector, offering specialized services such as comprehensive outpatient department services, in-patient services, and a range of medical specialities including paediatrics, ENT, oncology, dermatology, orthopaedics, neuro-paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology, as well as maternal and neonatal care.
Furthermore, the hospital comprises a 12-bed Intensive Care Unit (ICU), a 12-bed High Dependency Unit (HDU), a 40-crib newborn unit, four operation theatres, an oxygen plant capable of producing 450 litres of gas per minute, and water heating solar panels for green energy.
The operationalization of Kerugoya Level 5 Referral Hospital marks a significant milestone in Kirinyaga County's healthcare landscape.
With its state-of-the-art facilities and specialized services, the hospital is set to improve the well-being of the residents and serve as a model for healthcare excellence in the region.
