Femme StaffVihiga County Referral Hospital will benefit from a KES 60 million investment by M-Pesa Foundation to support the construction of a new Maternal, Neonatal, and Child Health (MNCH) unit.
Vihiga County Referral Hospital is set to increase the hospital’s bed capacity from 15 to 32, which will accommodate more mothers in the postnatal and antenatal wards. Additionally, the construction of the newly equipped 8-bed newborn unit will cater to newborns in need of further care.
“Maternal healthcare is one of M-Pesa Foundation’s key focus areas under the health pillar. To this effect, we have partnered with various county governments across the country to establish modern mother and child units in key health centres to ensure that mothers have safe and clean environments to deliver their babies and reduce maternal and infant mortality rates in the country,” said Joseph Ogutu, Safaricom Foundation Chairman.
The maternal unit will also include commodities to provide a variety of critical services such as postnatal and antenatal care, caesarean section deliveries, comprehensive clinic care, and laboratory services. It is expected to accommodate more expectant mothers and newborns from Vihiga and the surrounding Kakamega and Kisumu counties.
This initiative aligns with the Foundation’s commitment to enhancing healthcare access and infrastructure, particularly in underserved regions. Beyond medical services, the improved facility will contribute to better health outcomes for mothers and children by reducing the burden on existing healthcare resources. The project is also expected to create employment opportunities for medical personnel and support staff.
The Foundation has successfully constructed similar facilities in Homa Bay, Nyeri, and Kwale counties and has ongoing projects in Busia, Bungoma, Kiambu, Siaya, and Embu counties.
M-Pesa Foundation has also invested in the education sector within the county, recently handing over and commissioning the renovations of school infrastructure at Gamoi and Chekombero Primary Schools, respectively. These efforts underscore the Foundation’s holistic approach to community development by improving both health and education systems.
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