The Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) on Friday launched a Mental Care Unit meant to serve kenyans with mental health in the region.
Speaking during the launch, MTRH director, John Kibosia said that the facility will help in administering treatment to patients with mental health not only in Uasin Gishu County but the whole country saying most counties lack mental health units.
"The hospital will be one of its kind in the region with a bed capacity of 70 patients; 30 male and 40 female which was sponsosored by the national government and well-wishers. It starts receiving the first patients with immediate effect," he said.
The MTRH director he urged well-wishers to help the hospital build a bigger mental health unit saying the region has more than 2 million people with that 20% of them having some kind of a mental illness.
He says the new facility will not be able to handle the anticipated large number of patients with mental health problems stressing the need to have more units in the region.
"I urge Kenyans to embrace people with mental health since they are people like any other and that they should be handled with care and love and should not be secluded since they have the right just like other normal people, "he added.