Kakamega county, Jacaranda Health launch construction of Sh90m maternity ward

Expectant mothers are set to benefit from the construction of a Sh90 million modern maternity ward at Likuyani Sub-County Hospital, Kakamega.

The modern maternity wing project is a partnership between Kakamega county government and Jacaranda Health that is in line with Tutunze Kakamega Service Delivery Redesign (SDR) strategy.

Governor Fernandes Barasa, who presided over the groundbreaking of the health facility that will have an 80-bed capacity, was optimistic that it would help reduce maternal and neonatal mortality in the county.

"This is the biggest ever maternity wing to be built in the history of Kakamega County, which will be built under a programme of enhancing healthcare dubbed Tutunze Kakamega,” Barasa said.

“We want to improve maternal health in Kakamega, to give our mothers dignity when giving birth and ensure that we reduce the cases of maternal and neonatal mortality among across the county," he added.

The governor directed the contractor to ensure that the maternity wing being constructed in collaboration with Jacaranda Health, Thinkwell, ThinkPlace and Harvard University, is completed by January 2026.

"The current maternity wing has a capacity of 18 beds, and therefore, the modern one under construction has an 80-bed capacity, which will enable mothers to give birth in a well-equipped modern facility," he said.

Barasa noted that the modern facility at Likuyani sub-county hospital will have a labour ward, theatre, ante-natal and post-natal unit, a newborn unit, a kangaroo room and a manicured park for patients.

This initiative aims to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number 3, which targets to reduce maternal mortality to less than 70 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030.

“We are improving the health facilities across the county to give mothers dignity during delivery. According to statistics, 130 deliveries are recorded at the facility per month, which is extremely low compared to the expected 400 births every month," he said.

“ The equipping and building of the facility will help in reducing cases where mothers give birth at home, and I am encouraging our mothers to register under the Barasa Care programme so that they can get better quality healthcare services," the governor added.

The county boss said 99 per cent of women living in Kakamega reside an hour away from Level Four and Level Five facilities.

“We are not just putting up structures, but we are also equipping our health facilities with necessary equipment such as drugs so that when our mothers and other patients visit, they can access medical services without any problem,” he said.

Barasa acknowledged the challenges being faced in the provision of the Social Health Authority services.

He urged lawmakers to amend the policy that regulates annual contributions to allow citizens to make monthly contributions.

Jacaranda Health Country Director Job Makoyo noted that Kakamega county government has so far implemented similar health projects in Malava, Lumakanda, Matungu, and Butere hospitals to improve service delivery.

Dr Makoyo said that they will progressively meet SDG target to reduce maternal mortality to less than 70 in every 100,000 live births and 12 in every 1,000 live births in five years.

“Through these strategic interventions, we intend to radically change the way services are offered in the health sector, enabling expectant mothers to access quality information and facilities with competent medical personnel and appropriate equipment,” he said.

"We hope that the mission we began on the Tutunze Kakamega project will continue through the county’s efforts to ensure that every mother and other community members have reliable access to facilities with the right medical personnel and appropriate equipment," he added. 

Jane Khatika, a mother who had just delivered her baby at Likuyani Sub-County Hospital, welcomed the construction of the modern facility, saying expectant mothers will benefit from a dignified place that is well equipped to offer quality maternal services.

"We want to thank our governor and partners for this noble idea because the current maternity wing does not have enough capacity for more admissions, and therefore, no privacy. However, with the new modern wing that is going to be well equipped, we are optimistic that mothers will give birth in a health facility and reduce maternal and neonatal deaths," said Kahtika.