Kwale: President William Ruto has announced that the Social Health Authority (SHA) is dedicated to providing equitable and affordable access to healthcare. The President emphasized the role of Community Health Promoters (CHP) in advancing the country towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC). He urged Kenyans to register with SHA to benefit from the transformative healthcare scheme, while speaking at the foundation stone-laying ceremony for the X-Ray Block and the official opening of the Theatre Block at the Mkongani Sub-County Hospital.
According to Kenya News Agency, President Ruto highlighted the facility’s upgrade from Level III to Level IV, which will significantly improve healthcare access in the area. He reiterated the national government’s commitment to enhancing healthcare services nationwide through partnerships with county governments. The President pledged Sh 30 million to assist in further upgrading the hospital, ensuring residents receive quality services, and emphasized collaboration w
ith devolved governments to establish advanced healthcare infrastructure at the grassroots level.
Area Governor Fatuma Achani described the hospital upgrades as a ‘game changer,’ stating they will ease the burden on residents seeking specialized treatment. The Mkongani Level 4 Hospital is now equipped to offer specialized consultant services for over 1,500 expectant mothers monthly, reducing pregnancy-related mobility and mortality. Governor Achani mentioned that the upgrades would improve health outcomes and bring socio-economic benefits by stimulating local businesses and attracting healthcare professionals.
The Governor explained that with the hospital’s new capabilities, specialized medical care and major surgeries, such as caesarean sections, hernia repairs, and appendectomies, will now be performed onsite, reducing the need for referrals to Kwale Hospital, which is 40 kilometers away. She also highlighted the county’s efforts in upgrading other hospitals and turning Msambweni Hospital into a referral
hospital capable of handling specialized treatments like intensive care medicine and kidney dialysis.
Governor Achani noted the construction and equipping of health facilities and the employment of medical practitioners as part of her administration’s efforts to bring healthcare closer to the residents. She urged residents to utilize public hospitals to justify the investments made in renovating and equipping them with modern technology.