Health
Tharaka Nithi Governor Muthomi Njuki’s administration has built, equipped and supplied necessary drugs to more than 110 health facilities in the region in line with bringing services closer to residents.
Speaking after officially opening the Nthigiriri Hospital in Magumoni wardon Wednesday, Njuki said his administration has now reduced the long distances patients previously travelled in search of good health care. “We have constructed, equipped and supplied drugs to 50 new more health facilities within the County. Many patients used to travel more than 10 kilometres but we have reduced these distances to 2km or 3kms,” said the governor.
He disclosed that the county government has built and equipped from 60-110 hospitals in only seven years that he has been the Governor of the County. “This hospital will also benefit with a laboratory so that people do not go far for medical tests. In near future, we will also build a Maternity Ward and a Theatre here,” the County governor said.
Njuki reiterated that Chuka Hospital should be a referral hospital from facilities that lacked an ICU and other urgent services which were currently unavailable. “I thank the President for equipping the hospital with amenity Wards and upgraded it to Level 5 hospital. We have agreed to also promote and upgrade Kibugua, Mbukoni, Muthambi, Gatunga and Kajuki and uplift them to Level 4 hospitals,” Njuki said.
He further disclosed that for the first time, Itugururu Agriculture training Institute would start enrolling students for different courses. Njuki noted that in the whole country, only Tharaka Nithi has no airstrip and the County government has plans to make one at Itugururu grounds.
“Kenya Airports Authority have instructed us that there must be more than 1km runway space for construction of an airstrip to materialize. We have set a budget, done survey and analysis to acquire more land which we will be buying from area residents,” he said.
Njuki said that his government is committed to upgrade, murram and compact Mukuuni-Magenka-Muchatha-Gatanga and Nthigiriri roads, Kinoru Factory-Magenka road, Mukuuni Coffee Factory-Karamani road to ease the burden people have been facing to take their products to the markets.
Present during the event was Tharaka Nithi Deputy Governor Nyagah Muisrael and the County Assembly Budget committee chair who is also Karingani MCA Murithi Gaturo who noted that health facility standards in the County have been greatly improved.
“I have been to the Chuka Level 5 hospital and am impressed the hospital is installing an ICU. I have been into several hospitals and there are adequate drugs for patients contrary to naysayers,” Gaturo said. The MCA added that Kibugua-Itugururu road which was one of the Mau Mau roads was being upgraded to bitumen standards due to efforts and lobbying by Governor Njuki.
