Health

Makueni County First Lady, Anita Mutula on Thursday visited Sultan Hamud Sub-County Hospital to inspect ongoing construction of a new maternity wing aimed at expanding access to maternal healthcare.

The maternity facility has a 50-bed capacity, designed to address the rising number of deliveries at the hospital, which have surged to 180–190 mothers per month. The project is a partnership between Safaricom and the County Government of Makueni, reflecting a shared commitment to improving the quality of healthcare services for residents of Makueni and neighbouring counties.

The maternity wing is being developed at a total cost of Ksh 60 million, with Ksh 45 million allocated for construction and Ksh 15 million set aside for medical equipment. The facility is expected to be fully equipped and operational by November 2025.

The First Lady also toured other sections of the hospital to check on service delivery and patient care. Her visit coincided with the delivery of a new drug consignment, part of a wider county-wide initiative that has seen 17 major hospitals across Makueni receive fresh medical supplies to enhance service provision.

She was accompanied by Health Chief Officer Health, Dr. Harvey Mulei, the Chairman of the Hospital Board of Management, Major Leonard Kasyoka, Kasikeu Ward MCA Reuben Kavai, and other local leaders.

Makueni ECM in charge of Health Services, Joyce Mutua, on Wednesday conducted an unannounced visit to Mbooni Sub-County Hospital to evaluate the facility’s service delivery and inspect progress on the construction of a new modern emergency and family hospital.

During the visit, the ECM interacted with patients seeking medical care and took note of ongoing operations within the hospital.

She expressed satisfaction with the pace of construction, noting that the upcoming facility—expected to be completed later this year—will significantly enhance emergency response capacity and improve overall healthcare services for residents of Mbooni and surrounding areas.

The visit also reaffirmed the department’s commitment to strengthening healthcare systems across the county.

She emphasized her dedication to supporting Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr.’s vision of accessible and quality healthcare for all Makueni residents.

Healthcare workers from Level 2 and 3 health facilities are gathering at the One Mother and Child Hospital for a sensitization forum aimed at reducing neonatal deaths in the county.

The forum also seeks to address and dispel harmful myths surrounding unsafe health practices, such as the dangerous tradition of gum cutting, in an effort to promote healthier health-seeking behaviors.

The five-day forum was officially inaugurated by Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili and County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Health, Joyce Mutua.

As part of its commitment to improving maternal and child health, the Department is implementing a range of initiatives, including neonatal death audits, comprehensive capacity-building programs for healthcare workers, and the weekly Maternal Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (MPDSR) system .

This is to track and address preventable deaths. These efforts are part of a broader strategy to foster change and reduce neonatal mortality rates across the county.

For two decades, Leah Kitheka, now 63, carried out the painful traditional practice of gum cutting on children in her Sub Location of Mbui Nzau. With roughly 150 children subjected to the harmful procedure under her hands, Leah once believed she was offering help. Today, she is on a mission to right the wrong.

Driven by awareness and remorse, Leah now moves from home to home, urging mothers to seek medical care for teething issues instead of resorting to unsafe traditional methods.

Leah is among several reformed gum cutters empowered by the Makueni County Government to become champions of child health and protect future generations from the trauma she once inflicted.

On Thursday, Makueni Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili led a powerful forum at Kibwezi Sub-County Hospital, bringing together over 500 young women including pregnant mothers, community health promoters, and former gum cutters for a sensitization session aimed at ending gum cutting for good.

Mulili also announced plans to introduce a county policy that will outlaw the brutal practice ,often carried out using sharp objects like nails, razor blades, and bicycle spokes, and promote safer healthcare interventions for infants.

To support the reformed cutters in their new journey, Mulili presented them with 100 one-week-old chicks and poultry feed for two months ,a small but meaningful step toward helping them build alternative livelihoods and continue being voices of transformation in their villages.

The Makueni County Government has reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing primary healthcare delivery.

On Wednesday CECM in charge of Health Services Joyce Mutua,led a section of County Health Management team to visit Ivinganzia Dispensary in Mavindini Ward, to assess service gaps and outline strategic interventions.

The county is now moving to introduce a structured framework for deploying relief nurses, ensuring uninterrupted service delivery for the community.

Mutua noted that the department is prioritizing to Ensure facilities operate full-time.

The dispensary currently offers key services such as maternity care, routine clinical consultations, deliveries, and access to essential medicines. More complex cases are referred to Mavindini Level 3 Hospital.

Residents of Nzaui/Kilili/Kalamba Ward and surrounding areas will now benefit from improved quality, affordable, and reliable healthcare services following the commissioning of a new dental unit, digital X-ray machine, and renovated outpatient unit at Matiliku Sub-county Hospital.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. inaugurated the facilities on Tuesday, reinforcing his commitment to universal healthcare in Makueni County by strengthening medical infrastructure and service delivery.

The upgrades are expected to reduce referral burdens on Makueni County Referral Hospital, ensuring faster and more efficient healthcare access for local communities.

The governor was accompanied by Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili, Makueni County Assembly Speaker Mbilu Douglas, area MCA Francis Mutuku, MCAs Kyalo Mumo (Tulimani), Majority Kisungi wa Katete (Kithungo/Kitundu) and a host of other local leaders.

Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili on Thursday joined Wiper party leader Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka and other leaders at Kiongwani in Kilome Sub-county for the official unveiling of the Maria Salus Infirmorum Health Facility.

The facility has been established through the efforts of donors in Spain.

The facility will now join the network of county health facilities providing essential services to the people of Makueni.

The launch aligns with Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr’s commitment to strengthening universal health coverage and promoting medical tourism across the county.

Deputy Governor Mulili emphasized the importance of care networks that integrate private and public health services under the World Health Organization framework, noting significant improvements in the county’s health system.

She also acknowledged the development-oriented leadership of the Wiper party leader and extended her best wishes as he eyes the presidency in the upcoming general elections.

Also in attendance was the CECM in charge of Devolution Nickolas Nzioka, Chief Officers Health Services Dr.Harvey Mulei and Felistus Mutune Office of the Governor.

The Makueni County Government has confirmed 216 healthcare workers, who had served on contract for more than three years, to permanent and pensionable terms.

The confirmation letters were issued on Wednesday by Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. during a ceremony held at the Mother and Child Hospital.

The newly confirmed staff include 50 nurses, 24 registered clinical officers, 18 medical laboratory technologists, 12 pharmaceutical technologists, 11 psychological counsellors, and 4 emergency medical technicians, among other essential health professionals.

The governor emphasized his administration’s commitment to strengthening the county’s health system by investing in the welfare of health workers.

As part of this commitment, 917 employees across various cadres have already been promoted after years of stagnation in the same job groups.

Further, 56 doctors, including six consultants, were elevated to Job Group R, while three senior consultants were promoted to Job Group S in recognition of their critical contributions.

In a major boost to specialized care, the county has also hired its first neurosurgeon, who is now stationed at the Makueni County Referral Hospital.

The Governor acknowledged the challenges faced by healthcare personnel working on contract terms, including job insecurity, disparities in remuneration, limited access to training opportunities, and difficulties in obtaining credit facilities despite being expected to deliver at par with their permanently employed counterparts.

Governor Kilonzo Jr. was accompanied by Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili, County Assembly Speaker Douglas Mbilu, chairman Public Service Board Dr.Nickodemus Muteti, several Members of County Assembly, and members of the County Executive during the event.