The Mountain Journal
Laikipia county government is investing in the construction of an imaging centre and a modern mortuary in efforts to improve its service delivery.
In the venture, the county government will spend Sh 70 million for the establishment of the critical units that will be done within the The Nanyuki Teaching and Referral Hospital (NTRH).
The leadership handed over the construction sites for the two ambitious projects within NTRH) with the contractors with a directive that the buildings be completed in 120 days.
According to the contract document, the imaging centre will accommodate MRI, and CT Scan equipment, that patients have been referred to for decades in Nyeri and Meru counties.
The Modern Funeral Home will replace the existing facility with capacity to handle 68 bodies with introduction of chapels, sanitary facilities, and expanded parking, among other amenities.
Governor Joshua Irungu said the technical and administrative teams from the Laikipia Health Service, Nanyuki Teaching and Referral Hospital, the County Directorate of Public Works and the contractors met before the commencement of the construction began.
“The discussions focused on customizing the designs to suit the hospital’s operational needs while ensuring compliance with engineering, public health and labour regulations,” said Irungu.
The technical team mapped the possible relocation and protection of critical utilities, that included the underground power lines, water and sewer infrastructure, and data communication cables to avoid disruption to hospital services during the construction period.
Irungu added that the MRI and CT Scan Centre will enable patients to access advanced imaging services locally, significantly reducing the need for referrals outside the county for MRI and CT scan services.
Absence of a dignified public mortuary at NTRH has forced the locals to preserve bodies of their relatives and friends in mission and privately owned backed facilities in Nanyuki and Nyeri towns.
James Kimunye said the residents have suffered for years after the medics direct them to outsource the service outside the hospital at exorbitant costs.
In many of the public engagements, the residents, he said, have been demanding for an MRI and CT Scan after they had been traveling long distances to get the services.
“ As the community we are pleased that the project is set to kick off and plead with the county government to ensure once the buildings are done the equipment should be installed,” he Kimunye , a resident of Majengo.
Jane Wamuyu says Nanyuki has been demanding for a decent morgue as the present one remains outdated.
“The County Government has started listening to the people after years of turning a deaf ear as the issue of the morgue has been raised in all the public meetings since 2013,” said Wamuyu.