By Salim Mutuma
President Uhuru Kenyatta Thursday commissioned a state-of-the-art Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) regional hospital to address the healthcare needs of service personnel, their dependents and veterans in Isiolo, Marsabit, Mandera, Wajir, Meru, Nanyuki and Samburu counties
The Level IV KDF Isiolo Regional Hospital at the 78 Tank Battalion in Meru has a capacity of 105 beds and will offer among others surgical, internal medicine, obstetric/gynecological services, pediatric services and critical care services.
President Kenyatta said the new hospital marks an important step in the healthcare reforms for the disciplined forces in line with the Government’s agenda on Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
“The facility will reduce the time taken and resources used to travel all the way to Nairobi as was the case previously,” Mr Kenyatta said during the launch.
He was accompanied by Cabinet Secretaries Eugene Wamalwa (Defence), Mutahi Kagwe (Health) and Agriculture’s Peter Munya as well as Isiolo Senator Fatuma Dullo, Deputy Governor Dr Abdi Issa and Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi.
The facility adds to the Level 4 hospital already opened at Kahawa Garrison and the Trauma and Counselling Centre at Manda in Lamu.
The President pointed out that three other modern health facilities are in various stages of construction in Eldoret for the KDF, in Ruiru for the Prisons Service and at Mbagathi for the National Police Service.
“The upgrade of the Forces Memorial Hospital to a Level 5 facility is on course, as is the ongoing construction of the Level 6 Hospital for the Defence Forces located off Waiyaki Way in Nairobi,” he said.
Besides healthcare, the President said the Government has also boosted the welfare and social support of the disciplined forces by securing the dignity of service members and their families through provision of decent and affordable housing.
Chief of Defence Forces General Robert Kibochi said the new hospital will serve a felt need in the KDF as it caters a region that was previously not well covered in terms of provision of healthcare service.
