Helping Hand gives Kitui healthcare a Sh. 110Million shot in the arm

 Kitui on Thursday became the latest County government to benefit from a Sh. 110Million donation of medical and non-pharmaceutical equipment from Helping Hand for Relief and Development NGO.

The consignment in four containers that came through the NGO’s In-Kind gifts programme was handed over to the Kitui acting county chief officer for Health Dr Allan Owino by the NGO’s Board member Mohammed Karama.

The organization’s head of In-Kind Gifts programme, Yusuf Yunis witnessed the delivery of medical equipment to Kitui county’s largest referral hospital.

 The equipment included seven ICU beds, Physiotherapy kits, theatre equipment, and orthopaedic apparatus surgical equipment and disposables among them needles, syringes and gloves.

The County Executive for Health and Sanitation, Winnie Kitetu, said the equipment would be distributed to all the 14 sub-county hospitals across the county. “This equipment will go a long way in boosting healthcare provision among the populace,” she said.

Kitetu whose sentiments were echoed by Dr. Owino observed that the donated ICU beds will play a crucial role in facilitating the setting up of an ICU unit at the Kitui County Referral Hospital. They said the plans to set up the ICU unit were at an advanced stage.

Dr. Owino added that the donated equipment will go a long way in helping to meet the medical needs of the residents of Kitui County. He said he was hopeful that the mutual cooperation between the NGO and the County government would continue.

Karama disclosed that the equipment was worth Sh.110Million and were part of his organization’s elaborate programme that has also seen many other counties in Kenya benefit as well.

STORY By MWINGI TIMES CORRESPONDENT, EDITED By MUSYOKA NGUI