Migori County Government in partnership with the Journey By Grace Mission of Compassion, a United States of America (USA) based charity organization, has laid the ground for the construction of a Sh2.5 billion sickle cell hospital at Igena center in Kehancha town, Kuria West Sub-County.
The facility, which is the first sickle cell anemia hospital in Migori, once complete, will help lessen the burden of sickle cell patients who used to travel long distances to seek treatment.
Governor Ochilo Ayacko, who laid the foundation of the hospital’s construction together with the charity organization’s Dr. Joyce Duchess, highlighted that its construction would not only help patients in Migori, but the region and nearby Tanzania to get access to specialized treatment.
“In Migori, we believe that life will be worthless if we don’t have health, and we are doing our best to ensure the hospital becomes a dream by ensuring smooth running and logistics,” he added.
READ ALSO: Relief for Ayacko as MCAs endorse Sh10.8b budget
He lauded the construction of the special hospital whose foundation culminated after a two-day free medical camp in Migori, where over 800 patients benefited.
Ahead of the laying of the foundation stone, the county government and the mission had a two-day free medical camp at Huduma Hospital, Mambiso- Kehancha and Kehancha Cereal Grounds, and at Siabai Chief's Camp and Ntimaru Cereal Grounds.
The camps saw over 800 patients benefit from general consultation, pharmacy, laboratory services, nutritional assessment and counseling, public health education, specialized services, dental check-up, and cervical cancer screening.
Dr Duchess termed the event historic in their decade-long engagement in Migori, saying that it will help in creating sickle cell warriors in public education and offer dignity and a shoulder to patients.
“I started the journey to alleviate the pain of sickle cell anemia patients when I saw their struggle as a medical doctor. I challenge to community to join us in making this dream a reality,” she said.
Evy Oluoch and Stacy Rioba, two sickle cell warriors who were diagnosed with the disease as infants, said the hospital will be a big welcome in the county.
“We always go through pain, and we rely on caregivers, parents, and even teachers, as we often drop out of school for long hours. We also face a lot of stigma from society and we are humbled by this gesture,” Ms. Oluoch said.
Rioba said the hospital will be a welcome to doctors for the great job they have been doing for patients, and will help the Rongo Sickle Cell clinic.
“This is not a hospital, but a place of hope because for us we face a constant hospital life, and this struggle we face shows the world is giving us a listening ear,” Rioba said.
newsdesk@standardmedia.co.ke
