Residents of Kisa Central in Khwisero, Kakamega County, have welcomed the ongoing construction of the Khwisero Mother and Child Hospital, saying the facility will transform access to healthcare and spur economic growth in the area.
Residents say the hospital has been a long-standing dream and will reduce the burden of travelling long distances to seek medical treatment once it becomes operational.
Reagan, a resident of the area, said the facility would make healthcare services more accessible while helping reduce congestion in other hospitals.
He said the hospital would also stimulate development around the facility as doctors, nurses and other health workers seek accommodation and businesses emerge to serve patients and staff.
The facility is expected to boost economic activity around Ikolomani Market, with residents anticipating increased demand for housing, food and other services.
Before the project, residents of Kisa Central faced challenges accessing Level 4 healthcare services, with some patients forced to travel to other towns for specialised treatment.
Reagan said overcrowding and inadequate medical supplies at some facilities had also made treatment difficult, with patients sometimes having to wait for long periods to see limited numbers of doctors.
X-ray services expected to ease burden
Wycliffe Sande, a Kisa Central resident, said the hospital would significantly reduce the cost and time involved in seeking treatment.
He said the facility was nearing completion and would allow residents from Kisa Central and neighbouring areas to access services closer to home.
Sande singled out diagnostic services such as X-ray, saying residents currently have to travel to Butere to access some of the services.
He said the availability of healthcare closer to home would be particularly important for patients who fall ill at night and would otherwise face difficulties travelling long distances.
The hospital is also expected to create employment opportunities for residents, including security and cleaning jobs.
Sande said small traders would benefit from increased activity around the facility, with businesses selling fruits, food and other goods expected to attract more customers.
Mothers and children to benefit
John Okwomi, a Khwisero resident and boda boda rider, said the Mother and Child Hospital had renewed hope among residents who have struggled to access quality healthcare nearby.
Okwomi said residents previously travelled to Butere for treatment because nearby facilities lacked adequate services, increasing the cost of healthcare for families.
He said the hospital would be particularly important for pregnant women and children by providing them with easier access to specialised maternal and child healthcare.
However, he urged the government to ensure the facility is fully equipped with medicines, health workers and the necessary equipment before it begins operations.
Okwomi said the hospital could also transform the local economy by attracting doctors, nurses and other workers who would live and spend money in the surrounding community.
Resident credits SHA for wife’s surgery
Meanwhile, James Nyanje, a Kakamega County resident, has credited the Social Health Authority (SHA) with helping his family meet the cost of a major medical procedure.
Nyanje said his wife underwent head surgery at Kakamega Referral Hospital, with SHA covering a hospital bill of about Sh336,000.
He said the financial support ensured that his wife received treatment without forcing the family to raise the substantial amount from its own resources.
“My wife received treatment, recovered well and is now healthy,” Nyanje said, adding that he believes the family would have struggled to save her without the health cover.
Nyanje encouraged Kenyans to register for SHA, saying the scheme can provide crucial financial protection when families face major medical emergencies.
He recalled that before the new health insurance system, patients could be required to raise money for treatment at a time when they had no resources.
While praising SHA for supporting his family, Nyanje called for improvements in outpatient services to ensure patients who do not require admission can access care without having to spend unnecessary time in hospital.
The completion of Khwisero Mother and Child Hospital is expected to complement existing health facilities in the area by expanding access to healthcare while creating employment and business opportunities for residents.
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