The Mountain Journal
After decades of Mathioya residents searching for treatment in far-flung public and private health facilities for decades, they have a sigh of relief upon the completion of Nyakianga Level Hospital.
Through the initiative of the Murang’a County Government, the facility built from scratch replaces the Nyakianga Health Centre that was opened 49 years ago by the then Finance Minister, the late Mwai Kibaki.
Commissioning the project, Governor Irungu Kang’ata said his administration will continue improving and expanding the health facilities in a strategy to decongest Murang’a Level Five Hospital and others.
Kang’ata said the upgrading of the facility followed an appeal by the residents in their meetings, citing that Mathioya lacked a Level Four health facility in their constituency, thus forced to travel long distances.
“ We are committed to the transformation of health care; thus we have many programmes, and Nyakianga Level Four will provide the residents with the much-needed specialized treatment and medical care,” said the governor.
He was accompanied by his deputy Stephen Munania, Health CEC Dr Fredrick Mbugua, Health Chief Officer Eliud Maina, MCAs among others.
The facility has a fully fledged Casualty area, Antenatal and Postnatal units, labour ward, paediatric and female wards, newborn unit, laboratories, X-Ray and Ultrasound rooms and a Theatre. Male wards have also been constructed alongside the main hospital building.
The health chief officer said Nyakianga Level 4 Hospital will bring advanced healthcare services closer to residents of Mathioya, reducing the need to travel to neighbouring sub-counties or Murang’a Level 5 Hospital in search of specialised medical services.
“ We also have a telemedicine facility on the premises that will connect patients with medical consultants within their localities,” said Maina.
The commissioning of Nyakianga level four hospital in Mathioya from a rural health facility was celebrated as the locals recounted how they have been travelling to seek treatment in Othaya, Kangema and Kiharu constituencies.
Gitugi ward residents, led by Mzee Godfrey Mwangi Meni and James Kamau Ngirigacha, expressed joy over the hospital’s commissioning, saying the upgrade would end the 49-year wait.
Mwangi, a Nairobi businessman, lauded the county government’s initiative to establish a modern hospital and increase water supply.
“ Nyakianga Health Centre was opened in 1977 by the then Finance Minister, the late Mwai Kibaki, and we laud the efforts by Kang’ata’s administration to upgrade it to level four status,” said Kamau.