Over 5000 residents of Baragwi Ward in Kirinyaga County will now enjoy closer healthcare services after the opening of a new health facility by Governor Anne Waiguru.
Kiandai Dispensary which was opened on Tuesday, February 18 will bring relieve to more beneficiaries who have all along sought medical care in facilities located far from them.
While opening the dispensary, Governor Waiguru said that the initiative was a fulfilment of her administration’s promise to provide quality, affordable and accessible primary health services to the county residents.
Some of the villages to be served by the new facility include Kiandai, Kiaruri, Kiangurwe, Ngenya, Githage, Rwathae, Ndu-ini and Thimu, whose residents would at times travel more than 5kms to the nearest health facilities such as Kianyaga, Kabare or Gatugura.
“The opening of Kiandai Dispensary marks a significant step towards our Universal Health Coverage goals and becomes a valuable resource for the area residents in that it will also save them the costs incurred in search of services,” said the governor.
She added that some of the services to be offered at the new dispensary include outpatient, maternal and child welfare services, laboratory and pharmaceutical services, all of which will contribute to reduced morbidity and mortality in the area.
The governor pointed out that the new dispensary is among the 20 dispensaries projects that her administration has undertaken, 12 of which have been operationalized including Mucagara, Kiandai in Kiine, South Ngariama, Matandara, Riakithiga laboratory, Kamwana, Kiamwathi, Kianjiru, Umoja, Kiaumbui and Joshua Mbai laboratory. Others lined up for operationalization include Kiandieri, Kimweas, Ndaba, Kavote Ng’othi and Ndindiruku.
“We will continue strengthening our primary healthcare systems in order to address various health challenges in the community before they escalate to levels that need to be managed at our higher-level hospitals,” said Waiguru.
She noted that to further enhance service delivery, the County Government was upgrading Kianyaga Level 3 hospital to Level 4 once a new complex that is 70% complete opens. The project is going alongside Kimbimbi and Sagana hospitals upgrade projects.
At the same event, Waiguru issued 364 high density UPVC pipes of various diameters to Rwamukia and Corothimu Water projects which will serve areas such as Rwambiti, Kianjiru, Kiandai and Kiamwathi.
The area youth were not left behind as the governor also issued balls and uniforms to 10 football teams as well as ball and uniforms to four volleyball teams. Waiguru said that items will contribute to the county’s agenda for youth empowerment through sports talent development.
Under Governor Waiguru, Baragwi, being one of the 20 wards that constitute Kirinyaga County, has benefitted from various projects including Kiamwathi and Kianjiru Dispensaries, over Ksh. 10 million bursary, free ECDE uniforms for 505 learners, road rehabilitation program, markets upgrade, agricultural sector support, tarmacking of roads and cabro paving of Bus Park in Kianyaga town among others.
