West Pokot County is set to benefit from a 250-bed specialised maternal and newborn hospital.
The facility is expected to help address the high burden of maternal and newborn mortality in the region.
The county is among 10 regions selected to receive similar facilities through a Sh4.4 billion grant from Amsons Group under the Mama na Mtoto Kwanza initiative.
Deputy Governor Robert Kamolle said the facility, expected to cost about Sh500 million, will provide comprehensive maternal and newborn services, including antenatal and postnatal care.
The hospital will also offer Caesarean section services, theatres, maternal and neonatal intensive care, and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) services.
“The investment will significantly strengthen West Pokot’s capacity to provide safe, quality and specialised maternal and newborn healthcare closer to communities, while complementing ongoing efforts by the county government to improve health outcomes,” Kamolle said.
Groundbreaking for the facility is expected next month. Kamolle said the county administration is committed to working closely with the Ministry of Health and partners to ensure effective implementation of the project.
Kamolle had earlier joined Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, governors and their representatives for discussions on accelerating efforts to reduce preventable maternal and newborn deaths across the country.
During the meeting with Duale, Kamolle was accompanied by Health and Sanitation executive Claire Parklea and members of the County Health Management team.
“We welcome and appreciate the government’s plan to have the facility in West Pokot, and we know it will go a long way in improving the health of our people,” Kamolle said.
Governor Simon Kachapin also welcomed the planned hospital project, saying the county is investing heavily to ensure residents have access to quality healthcare.
Kachapin spoke while presiding over the opening of the new Simotwo Health Dispensary.
The facility was initiated during his first term and has since been completed and operationalised to serve residents of Simotwo and neighbouring communities.
Kachapin said the dispensary will bring essential healthcare services closer to residents, reducing the distance they travel to access medical care.
The facility is also expected to strengthen access to affordable primary healthcare at the local level.
INSTANT ANALYSIS
The planned Sh500 million specialised maternal and newborn hospital is a major healthcare investment for West Pokot, where long distances and limited access to specialised services contribute to maternal and newborn health challenges. Its inclusion in the Sh4.4 billion Mama na Mtoto Kwanza initiative reflects a broader effort to expand specialised care beyond major urban centres. If implemented as planned, the facility could improve access to caesarean sections, intensive care and NICU services while reducing referrals. The opening of Simotwo Health Dispensary also complements the county’s efforts to strengthen healthcare from primary to specialised levels.
