Likoni: Safaricom Foundation, in partnership with the Mombasa County government, has launched the construction of a new maternity wing at Likoni Level 4 Hospital aimed at improving maternal and child healthcare services in the area.
According to Kenya News Agency, Governor Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir expressed gratitude towards Safaricom’s M-Pesa Foundation for supporting the county’s health initiatives during the groundbreaking ceremony. The governor highlighted that the new facility will increase the number of beds from 16 to 50 and will include a newborn unit and an intensive care unit (ICU) for children. He emphasized that Likoni’s population growth has outpaced the existing hospital’s capacity, necessitating this expansion.
‘Safaricom has invested Sh37 million to construct the hospital and Sh13 million to equip the new wing,’ said the governor. Safaricom’s Chief Business Enterprise Officer, Franklin Okata, noted that the initiative is part of the company’s 25th anniversary celebrations under its M-Pesa Foundation programmes, which prioritize education, health, and economic empowerment. He stated that the Sh50 million maternity wing will provide women with a safe and dignified place to deliver and is committed to reducing maternal and infant mortality through improved facilities.
Likoni MP Mishi Mboko encouraged women to attend antenatal clinics to receive guidance on nutrition, early detection of complications, and health monitoring, emphasizing the importance of such care in reducing risks for mothers and infants while preparing families for childbirth. She also called for continued cooperation among leaders to prioritize development and urged the county to complete ongoing projects at Shonda and expand Mwangale Health Centre to cater to the growing population.
Mboko praised the county for upgrading Vijiweni Polytechnic with modern training facilities, including a swimming pool for Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping (STCW) maritime courses. She highlighted that the new facilities would enable local youth to access maritime training without needing to travel to Bandari College.
