The M-Pesa Foundation has today broken ground for the construction of a KES45 million modern maternity wing at Kianjakoma Health Centre in Embu County as part of its efforts to reduce maternal and infant mortality in the country.
The hospital, which is located 20km away from Embu town, was stretched by the growing demand for maternal and child health services in the area. The maternity wing will be equipped with an antenatal and postnatal unit, a newborn unit, 25 beds, an operating theatre, and a two-bed delivery room to boost maternal service delivery at the facility.
The project is part of the Foundation’s efforts to improve maternal health outcomes through infrastructure development and partnerships with county governments in Kenya.
“We invest in health through various programmes which address critical needs in our communities,” Safaricom Foundation chairman Joseph Ogutu said. “Among these needs is maternal and child health. We partner with county governments in all 47 counties to ensure that the required infrastructure and equipment are in place to enable quality, affordable, and accessible services.”
The new maternity wing will play a pivotal role in enhancing maternal healthcare services and providing a safe and comfortable environment for childbirth and postnatal care, while addressing the increasing demand for quality maternity services in the region.
In Embu County, the Foundation has invested over KES400 million in education, health, and economic empowerment projects since 2003, impacting more than 224,000 people.
In September last year, the Foundation launched a comprehensive TVET scholarship programme at the University of Embu set to benefit 1,300 students.
About M-PESA Foundation
Since its inception in 2010, the M-PESA Foundation has partnered with Kenyans on a large scale and long-term highly impactful social projects. It aims to promote health, education, and environmental conservation for the social and economic benefit of the people of Kenya and has reached over three million people over the years.
Under health, the Foundation has invested in Uzazi Salama, a maternal and newborn health project, and Daktari Smart, a telemedicine programme that links and provides treatment to children in six hard-to-reach counties in Kenya. In education, it supports bright children from poor backgrounds through the M-PESA Foundation Academy.
Under environmental conservation, it has invested in a fencing project at the Mau Eburu Forest to curb recurring human-wildlife conflict, partnered with Reteti Elephant Sanctuary to help protect the orphaned and abandoned elephant calves in the sanctuary, and partnered with the Northern Rangelands Trust to establish and conserve a viable and genetically diverse population of Roan antelope within Ruma National Park in Kenya.
Under integrated livelihoods, the M-PESA Foundation has partnered with the Kenya Red Cross Society to rehabilitate Nyalani dam in Kwale County to improve food security and livelihoods for the people of Kinango.
