Kilifi to construct Sh300m health complex

Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi addresses a press conference. Governor Kingi said a health complex that will soon be constructed in the county will have a Sh100 million cancer screening unit. PHOTO | KAZUNGU SAMUEL | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • The health complex, which is expected to be one of the finest in the Coast region, will be built on a 10-acre piece of land belonging to the Kilifi County Hospital.
  • He said his administration wants to make sure patients are treated in Kilifi and not referred to Mombasa.

The construction of a Sh300 million modern health emergency centre and intensive care unit complex in Kilifi County will begin soon.

Governor Amason Kingi said the complex will also have a Sh100 million cancer screening unit to cater for the residents.

He spoke at the Karisa Maitha football grounds when he marked the end of campaigns against obstetric fistula in the county.

“A tender for the construction of the modern emergency centre and ICU complex was advertised recently and construction will begin soon,” the governor said.

“We have also proposed in our 2016/2017 budget the allocation of Sh100 million towards setting up of a cancer screening unit at the same facility,” he added.

He said his administration wants to make sure patients are treated in Kilifi and not referred to Mombasa.

The health complex, which is expected to be one of the finest in the Coast region, will be built on a 10-acre piece of land belonging to the Kilifi County Hospital.

The land, opposite St Thomas Primary School, was repossessed by the county government after it was grabbed by some individuals.

The governor said it was disheartening that many residents, especially women, fail to undergo cancer screening.

“I have often said the disease can be treated if detected early. It is for this reason that we are setting up the facility,” he said.

The one-month fistula campaign was conducted by the county government in conjunction with other partners including the Freedom From Fistula Foundation, the Flying Doctors Society, the Maendeleo Ya Wanawake Organisation and the United Nations Population Fund.

The Mushrooms band and bango maestro Joseph Ngala also participated in the campaigns by composing songs of hope to the victims of fistula.

Freedom From Fistula Foundation Director Margret Chege said the organisation was formed to address the challenges many women in Africa face after contracting fistula.