Kitui Governor Julius Malombe and Defence Principal Secretary Patrick Mariru on Thursday unveiled the plaque for the Nzamba Kitonga Memorial Hospital in Mutitu/Kaliku Ward, Kitui East Sub-County, marking a major milestone in the expansion of healthcare services in the county.
The specialized hospital will focus on the treatment and management of respiratory and infectious diseases, serving residents from Kitui East and other parts of the county. The project is expected to strengthen the county’s preparedness and response to future public health emergencies.
Speaking during the event, Governor Malombe said the establishment of the hospital demonstrates his administration’s commitment to ensuring residents have access to quality and affordable healthcare services closer to their communities.
The Governor noted that the project was informed by lessons learnt during the 2020-2021 COVID-19 pandemic, which exposed major gaps in the management of respiratory and infectious diseases both globally and locally.
According to Governor Malombe, the pandemic revealed challenges including inadequate isolation wards, limited specialized respiratory treatment units, insufficient diagnostic and laboratory capacity, and weak emergency referral systems within the region.
He further observed that upper respiratory tract infections remain among the leading causes of illness in Kitui County, making the establishment of the facility timely and necessary in improving healthcare outcomes for residents.
Governor Malombe said he initiated the project following the death of renowned constitutional lawyer Nzamba Kitonga in 2020, adding that the hospital will stand as a lasting tribute to his contribution to the country and the people of Kitui.
The county boss also commended President William Ruto for supporting the project through an allocation of KSh 200 million from the National Government towards the construction of the facility.
Once completed, the Nzamba Kitonga Memorial Hospital will have a capacity of 75 beds and specialized outpatient clinics aimed at improving treatment and management of respiratory illnesses and infectious diseases.
The County Government of Kitui has pledged to fully equip the facility and deploy healthcare workers to ensure efficient service delivery to residents upon completion of the hospital project.
Ends////
