Kwale: Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani has officially launched the construction of a Sh14 million accident and emergency facility at the Msambweni Teaching and County Referral Hospital in Msambweni Sub County. The new facility is a collaborative effort between the Kwale county government and the Emergency Medicine Kenya Foundation (EMKF) and aims to reduce fatalities from road accidents and other emergencies.
According to Kenya News Agency, the construction will feature a ward with nine modern hospital beds, an isolation ward, and a central oxygen supply system to assist patients with breathing difficulties. Governor Achani emphasized that the goal is to ensure all Kwale residents have access to quality, timely, and life-saving medical services. The facility’s strategic location at the hospital entrance will enhance its ability to provide 24-hour emergency care.
Achani praised the EMKF for its role in building a more resilient healthcare system, noting that the project aligns with her administration’s agenda to boost emergency medical care. The hospital will also be equipped with a trauma care ward, an operation theatre, and an intensive care unit, all designed to provide timely medical assistance to accident victims.
The Msambweni hospital’s location along the busy Mombasa-Lunga Lunga highway makes it an ideal site for the new emergency center. Governor Achani highlighted that the new center would not only offer emergency services but also improve overall healthcare services at the hospital for the residents of Kwale County.
Achani also emphasized the importance of public-private partnerships in healthcare infrastructure development, highlighting auxiliary facilities such as triage units and diagnostic units as significant enhancements. The project will include training for emergency health workers to improve service delivery.
Governor Achani was accompanied by Deputy Governor Chirema Kombo, County Health Executive Francis Gwama, and Medical Director Francis Ndiege during the launch. She detailed the county’s extensive investment in healthcare infrastructure, including the construction and equipping of various units at the Msambweni hospital.
Emergency Medicine Kenya Foundation Program Manager, Lilian Waihuini, expressed the foundation’s commitment to partnering with Kwale County to reduce fatalities from accidents. She noted that equipping public Emergency Departments with essential medical care equipment is part of their ongoing effort to empower hospitals in responding to emergencies.
Local residents, led by Suleiman Koi, welcomed the project as a vital step in reducing preventable deaths and promoting public health. Koi highlighted the significance of having a facility that provides timely lifesaving care in critical situations, a development that has been long overdue in the area.