By Our Correspondent
The County Government of Nyeri has received Sh52.9 Million from the Global Fund for various oxygen projects in hospitals within the county.
The donation, which is from the Global Fund through the Amref Health Africa in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, will help improve the oxygen infrastructure in various medical facilities in the county.
The projects involves the installation of Liquid Oxygen tanks and accompanying piping and manifold several health facilities based in Mathira, Kieni, and Othaya constituencies.
It will also involve the supply of 329 Oxygen Cylinders, Oxygen Splitters, Patient Monitors and supply of Oxygen kits.
The health facilities include Karatina, Othaya and Naro Moru Level IV hospitals as well as Unjiru and Mweiga
Health centers.
Yesterday, a team from AMREF Kenya which visited Nyeri County Governor Mutahi Kahiga said the funding will also involve training of the technical team.
The AMREF team was headed by Peter Waiganjo – Amref Kenya Business Development and Venture Director.
He was accompanied by among others, a community owned organization; Central Kenya Development Network (CKDN) officials led by its chairman, Ambassador, Dr Stephen Karau and Technical Director Dr Michael Mugo.
CKDN is helping ten counties that form Central Region Economic Bloc (CEREB) executes their mandate by among other things, targeting sector-based interventions as a driver of development and social economic resilience.
It was thus very instrumental in securing the funding for the Nyeri health facilities.
Ambassador Karau said his organization was working with CEREB in other sectors like Agriculture, Environment and Education in the region so as to uplift the well-being of the locals.
The work, which is expected commence immediately will be completed by July this year.
The Nyeri governor who was accompanied by his Deputy David Kinaniri appreciated the donation adding that this will go a long way in ensuring a wealthy county with happy, healthy and secure people in line with the county’s vision.
He emphasized on the commitment to ensure the funds are used prudently since oxygen is an essential commodity in health facilities.
Others present were Nyeri Health acting CEC Robert Thuo and County Public Service CEC who is also the CEREB CEO Ndirangu Gachunia.
John Kariuki