State pledges Sh50 million to complete Endebess Hospital

By Sandra Omondi (KNA)

President William Ruto has pledged Sh50 million to complete the Endebess Level Four Sub-County Hospital in Trans Nzoia County.

The hospital, which is 88 per cent complete, is expected to start operating by January next year and improve access to healthcare services for residents of Endebess and neighbouring areas.

Speaking during his visit to the region, the President said the additional allocation would enable completion of the project which has already received Sh248 million funding.

“We are building hospitals all over and we want to ensure that there is equal access to healthcare for everyone at the grassroots,”  Ruto said.

The President reiterated the government's commitment to strengthening healthcare infrastructure and bringing essential medical services closer to communities.

Once operational, the facility is expected to boost healthcare delivery by expanding access to maternal and child health services, emergency care, diagnostic services and outpatient treatment.

The hospital will house a radiology unit, accident and emergency department, maternal and child health wing, outpatient department, a 26-bed maternity unit and 54 newborn cots, among other facilities.

The radiology unit will be equipped through the National Equipment Service Programme, enhancing the facility’s capacity to offer specialised diagnostic services.

The new hospital is also expected to ease pressure on existing health facilities within the county and reduce the distances residents travel to access quality medical care, particularly maternal and child health services.

Linking the project to the government’s Universal Health Coverage agenda, President Ruto said healthcare should be accessible to all citizens regardless of their economic status.

President Ruto lauded the Social Health Authority (SHA), saying the programme is designed to broaden access to affordable healthcare services.

“Back then, treatment and care were very expensive, but I decided that, according to Article 43 of the Constitution, healthcare is everyone's right. We changed the coverage to SHA, which has seen many registrations, with about 451,000 people registered in Trans Nzoia,” he said.

The President urged residents who have not yet enrolled under SHA to register and benefit from the government-backed health insurance programme.

Ruto also addressed delays in the completion of the Wamalwa Kijana Teaching and Referral Hospital, noting that the project requires between Sh300 million and Sh500 million to be completed.

He attributed some of the setbacks affecting development projects to political disagreements and called on leaders to support constructive engagement to accelerate service delivery.

“Let politics be good and not hateful or violent so that development can be done,” he said.

The completion of Endebess Level Four Sub-County Hospital is expected to strengthen healthcare services in Trans Nzoia County and support the government's broader efforts to achieve universal access to quality healthcare.