Kenya’s maternal health promotion efforts received a major boost following the groundbreaking of the first of ten Mother and Child Hospitals to be constructed countrywide under a Sh4.5 billion grant from Amsons Group.
The first of the ten Amsons Mama na Mtoto Kwanza Level 4 hospitals (Chebunyo Mother and Child Hospital), sponsored by Pan-African Business conglomerate Amsons Group, broke ground last weekend in Bomet County in a colourful function presided over by President William Ruto.
The US$ 35 million Amsons Mama na Mtoto Kwanza initiative by Amsons Group, a corporate investor in Kenya associated with both Bamburi Cement and East African Portland Cement Plc (EAPC), is the largest-ever private-sector-financed boost to prevent maternal deaths in Kenya.
Statistics indicate that in Kenya, 5,000 children and 3,600 mothers die at delivery, with 26 counties currently identified as high-burden maternal death counties.
Speaking at the groundbreaking and construction works commencement, Amsons Group Managing Director Edha Nahdi pledged to complete all ten modern hospitals quickly as part of the pan-African firm’s commitment to shared prosperity ideals in Kenya.
He noted that the speedy completion of the ten facilities within the next two years will help alleviate the plight of more than 1 million underserved women in Nairobi (2), Kwale, Mombasa, Garissa, Kisumu, Embu, Nakuru, Uasin Gishu and West Pokot.
Nahdi said, “This ceremony marks the beginning of a major commitment by Amsons Group to support the Government of Kenya in improving access to quality maternal, newborn and child healthcare.” He added,
“Through Amsons Group Foundation, we are investing US$ 35 million to establish ten mother-and-child hospitals across Kenya within two years. This Level 4 facility in Chebunyo is the first of those ten hospitals and will set the standard for the facilities that will follow.”
The ten facilities to be developed under a Build, Equip, and Transfer (BoT) model with the Ministry of Health are part of the firm’s corporate social investment initiative, dubbed the Amsons Mama na Mtoto Kwanza project.
At the groundbreaking ceremony, also attended by Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, President Ruto reiterated that over the last four years, Kenya has undertaken the most ambitious health system transformation since independence.
Ruto said Amsons Group’s support will help deepen ongoing health infrastructure expansion under the national Health Systems Strengthening (HSS) project.
He said the government, through the Ministry of Health, intends to implement the HSS Project, which aims to increase the number of adequately equipped health facilities, especially at level 4 and 5, to serve as the first point of access for inpatient care, critical referral and specialised care, support emergency and critical services, and offer advanced diagnostics and treatment.
The construction of the ten new facilities, each with a 250-bed capacity, will help alleviate the plight of more than 1 million women seeking pre- and postnatal care in remote and rural locations.
The government, through the Ministry of Health and the respective county governments, will provide the necessary support, including staffing and medical supplies.
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