Residents in Mombasa County have lauded President Uhuru Kenyatta for his announcement to improve hospitals in the Coast region.
Most of the residents from Lamu and Mombasa County have been suffering due to lack of proper facilities and equipment.
Ms Ruth Halima, one of the residents, said improvement of hospitals in the region will boost provision of medical services and cut delays experienced by patients visiting the facilities.
Ms Halima who was speaking to journalists said many residents in the past were forced to travel to other counties to seek treatment which was very expensive.
“The improvement of hospitals will benefit many of us especially women and children. The modern facilities will help to reduce costs for the residents who seek treatment in far areas or other counties because of lack of facilities,” she said.
President Kenyatta said the government will release Sh100 million in its Supplementary Budget for improvement of Lamu Hospital and to upgrade two health facilities in each county to referral status.
“The target of the government is to ensure each county has at least one Level Five hospital and one Level Four hospital.”
“We will issue Sh100 million for Lamu County Hospital, Sh50 million for Mpeketoni Hospital and Sh50 million for Faza Sub County Hospital in Lamu East,” said President Kenyatta.
According to Abdi Abdul, another resident in the county, hospitals in Mombasa County receive a huge number of patients who come from various areas in the region and upgrading the Lamu hospital will cater for these needy patients.
“The hospital is overwhelmed and receives patients from far flung areas coming to seek treatment here. I thank the President for his commitment in improving the health sector in the region,” he said.