By Mt Kenya Times Correspondents
Worth Noting:
- The handing over of the KMTC Chuka campus is a significant milestone in the efforts to improve access to quality medical training in Kenya. The facility will provide a much-needed boost to the health sector in the region, as well as create job opportunities for the local community.
- “The Kenya Medical Training College Chuka campus is a step in the right direction in addressing the shortage of health professionals in the country,” said the CS.
- The government’s commitment to completing and equipping the facility will help to train a new generation of health professionals who will be better equipped to address the health needs of the population.
The Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) Chuka campus has been officially handed over to the national government, ending a long-standing dispute between the county and national governments.
The construction of the institution, which had stalled in 2015, has been under the jurisdiction of the county government and has been operating within the premises of Chuka University.
Cabinet Secretary for Health, Dr. Susan Nakhumicha Wafula received the facility from Tharaka Nithi Governor, Muthomi Njuki, in a ceremony attended by key stakeholders in the health sector.
In her remarks, Dr. Wafula disclosed that the Ministry of Health has set aside Sh105 million for the completion and equipping of the facility, which will provide essential medical training to health professionals in the region.
Dr. Kelly Oluoch, the Chief Executive Officer of KMTC who was also in attendance expressed his delight at the development.
He stated that the completion of the campus will enable the institution to offer quality medical training to students, who will go on to serve the community and contribute to the growth of the health sector.
The handing over of the KMTC Chuka campus is a significant milestone in the efforts to improve access to quality medical training in Kenya. The facility will provide a much-needed boost to the health sector in the region, as well as create job opportunities for the local community.
“The Kenya Medical Training College Chuka campus is a step in the right direction in addressing the shortage of health professionals in the country,” said the CS.
The government’s commitment to completing and equipping the facility will help to train a new generation of health professionals who will be better equipped to address the health needs of the population.
Meanwhile, the process of upgrading Chuka County Referral Hospital to a Level 5 facility has officially begun!
Following President William Ruto’s directive to the Ministry of Health, Cabinet Secretary for Health Dr Wafula and county Njuki yesterday toured the hospital to assess its state of preparedness.
The CS noted that the facility has made great progress, but there is still much work to be done.
She disclosed that the Ministry of Health will provide support with essential equipment such as CT scans and HDU machines as she urged the county government to prioritize its health budget to aid the hospital’s compliance with Level 5 status.
Additionally, the telemedicine platform developed by Google in Tharaka Nithi will allow for easy access to quality healthcare services, cutting costs and improving healthcare outcomes. The governor thanked the national government for their support and promised to work closely with them to achieve even more.
The Ministry also donated a vehicle to the satellite blood transfusion unit to ease the movement of staff and transportation of blood to the storage facilities in Embu and Meru referral hospitals.