Construction of the Baitulmaal Level 4 not-for-profit hospital has officially begun in Wajir County, marking a major investment in healthcare that is expected to expand access to affordable medical services for residents.
The groundbreaking ceremony brought together officials from the Wajir County Government and Baitulmaal, who said the project is the culmination of years of collaboration to strengthen healthcare delivery in the county.
Speaking during the event, Wajir County Executive Committee Member for Health Habiba Ali said the project goes beyond the construction of a new health facility, describing it as a symbol of the county's commitment to improving the well-being of its residents.
"Today marks far more than the beginning of a construction project. It marks the beginning of a new chapter in healthcare delivery for the people of Wajir County. This hospital represents hope, compassion, partnership and our shared commitment to ensuring that every resident has access to quality, affordable and timely healthcare," she said.
Habiba said the county government would continue supporting the project while fostering partnerships that enhance healthcare services. She reiterated that access to healthcare is a fundamental right and affirmed the county's commitment to investing in health infrastructure, medical equipment, the recruitment of healthcare workers and the expansion of services across Wajir.
She highlighted previous joint initiatives between the county government and Baitulmaal, noting that the organisation had supported cataract surgeries that restored the eyesight of more than 4,000 people, trained healthcare workers in emergency maternal and newborn care, and donated maternity equipment to Wajir County Referral Hospital. She said these interventions had significantly strengthened maternal and newborn health services in the county.
According to Habiba, Wajir County currently operates 178 health facilities across its 15 sub-counties. Wajir Town alone has 20 health facilities, comprising one Level 5 referral hospital, one Level 4 hospital and 18 primary healthcare centres, including two faith-based institutions.
She said the new hospital will provide inpatient and outpatient care, emergency medical services, maternal and child healthcare, as well as selected specialist clinics, while complementing existing public health facilities.
Habiba added that Wajir County Referral Hospital will continue offering specialised services, including intensive care, high dependency care, dialysis, blood transfusion, complex surgical procedures and advanced diagnostic services.
"The new Baitulmaal hospital will become an integral part of our county referral system by managing Level 4 services and referring patients requiring advanced specialist care to our referral hospital. This coordinated referral system will improve efficiency, reduce unnecessary referrals outside the county and improve health outcomes," she said.
She stressed that achieving Universal Health Coverage requires collaboration between governments, faith-based organisations, charitable institutions, development partners and the private sector.
The county government, she said, plans to deepen its partnership with Baitulmaal in healthcare worker training, emergency preparedness, maternal and newborn health, disease surveillance, quality improvement and the implementation of national healthcare standards.
Habiba also expressed appreciation to healthcare workers for their dedication despite ongoing challenges and urged residents to support and safeguard the hospital project so it can benefit future generations.
Baitulmaal Kenya Founder and Chief Executive Officer Ugas Sheikh Mohammed described the hospital as the largest joint project undertaken by the organisation and the Wajir County Government, saying its success would depend on sustained collaboration.
"I want to appreciate the partnership between the county government and us. We've done a lot of things together, and this is the biggest test of our partnership because we will want to work with the county government to deliver on some of the things that we are promising," he said.
Ugas said the county government would provide qualified medical personnel, while Baitulmaal would supply medical equipment and other resources needed to support healthcare services. Although the organisation has implemented projects in education, water supply, humanitarian assistance and orphan support across Wajir, he said the hospital is expected to have the greatest long-term impact.
He added that the goal is to establish a facility capable of delivering quality, affordable and specialised healthcare. The hospital also plans to invite specialist doctors from different countries to conduct outreach clinics, enabling residents to access advanced treatment without travelling outside Wajir County.
Baitulmaal International Chief Executive Officer Mazen Mokhtar said the hospital reflects the organisation's commitment to supporting sustainable community development through projects that directly improve people's lives. He noted that healthcare is among the most essential services for any community and said the new facility would allow residents to receive treatment closer to home, reduce waiting times and lower the cost of accessing medical care.
Once completed, the Baitulmaal Level 4 Not-for-Profit Hospital is expected to strengthen Wajir County's referral system, complement existing public health facilities and improve access to quality healthcare for the county's growing population.
Comments
Sign in with Google to comment, reply, and like comments.
Continue with Google