The city of Minneapolis in the United States has donated ambulances valued at Sh120 million to the Eldoret Municipal Council.
Eldoret and Minneapolis have a twinning programme through which plans are underway for the two towns to implement an extensive healthcare plan including training of nurses.
“We have received support from the US city before, when they gave us fire engines,” said mayor William Rono yesterday. “We are grateful they have donated ambulances for our hospitals.”
Rono said the two well equipped ambulances have already been shipped and are expected at the port of Mombasa in a few weeks time.
The mayor said the municipal council is in the process of upgrading its health centres to help complement healthcare services offered by the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital.
The CEO of the hospital John Kibosia and Rono last year led a delegation to the US, where they signed a healthcare memorandum of understanding with the city of Minneapolis.
“The agreement will see the town of Eldoret benefit because we plan to have an exchange programme through which some of our health staff will be trained in the US, while a team from Minneapolis will come to Eldoret for attachment,” said Rono.
Last year, experts from the US city were in Eldoret to train employees at the local fire station, who are now operating the fire engines donated by Minneapolis.
Kibosia said the hospital is ready to improve its healthcare system in Eldoret so that residents can easily access medical services and help reduce congestion at the referral hospital.
“We have agreed with the council that some of our staff will be working at the council’s health centres so that patients are not forced to seek treatment at the referral hospital,” said Kibosia.
Rono said the council has invested heavily in developing the healthcare facilities in the town. The council is in the process of implementing its strategic plan which will cover expansion of key services and facilities within the next 10 years.
He said the council is looking at ways of improving the road network in the town.
Lately the town has been experiencing heavy traffic congestion.
The delayed construction of a by-pass to cost Sh2 Billion will be undertaken this year and already survey work on the project is going on.
the Star
