Kirinyaga County: Kirinyaga County is set to revolutionize the emergency care system with the construction of a post-crash trauma centre at Sagana Subcounty Hospital. The new facility under construction will provide rapid, life-saving treatment to accident victims mainly along the Kenol-Marua, Sagana-Kagio-Kutus, and Makutano-Embu highways.
According to Kenya News Agency, the project is expected to be complete by the end of the current financial year. It represents a transformative approach to emergency medical care and will improve the survival rate of trauma victims in the region. Speaking while on a project assessment tour, the County Executive Committee Member (CEC) for Health, George Karoki, emphasized the necessity of a faster and more effective emergency response system due to the numerous accidents on the busy highways.
Karoki highlighted that the two-storey facility will include surgical theatres and dedicated diagnostic imaging centers equipped with cutting-edge technology, all aimed at enabling the fastest possible response to accident victims. He noted that the hospital is strategically located along the busy Kenol-Sagana-Marua dual carriage, which will allow it to respond promptly to accidents and medical emergencies.
Governor Anne Waiguru stated that the trauma centre, realized through collaboration between the National and the County Government, is part of the County Government’s elaborate programme to improve healthcare service delivery to all county residents. The county government has been enhancing primary healthcare through the construction and operationalization of dispensaries, with 13 new ones already opened and 7 others planned.
Kariti Member of County Assembly (MCA), Jeremia Makimi, asserted that the hospital is strategic for catering to accident victims, especially along the Kenol-Marua highway, which has claimed many lives recently. He mentioned that despite the expected reduction in accidents due to the highway’s dualing, numerous incidents, particularly involving motorcyclists, are still reported.
Local residents and leaders have welcomed the trauma centre, noting the high incidence of accidents along the busy highways. Francis Maina, a fruit vendor in Sagana Town, expressed anticipation for the emergency centre as it addresses a critical challenge in the area. Similarly, Josphat Kibia, a pastor at Born Again Church in Sagana, voiced that the trauma centre will greatly benefit area residents who have suffered from accidents, especially at hazardous spots like Kibirigwi and Kiangwaci.