Residents of Faza Lamu County will benefit from a newborn unit constructed by Safaricom Foundation.
The maternal health facility at Faza sub-county hospital which is valued at sh 8 million is expected to boost maternal and neo-natal health services in Faza and its environs.
The health facility has been equipped with incubators, oxygen masks for newborn babies, a phototherapy unit, and digital equipment such as computers and digital baby scales among others.
“Women in Faza Island faced challenges in accessing maternal health services which forced them to travel for at least three hours for maternal care and delivery. These long journeys caused maternal health complications which led to deaths of at least two children and women per month because of unavailability of skilled maternal care,” said Dr. Maddy Zuber, the medical superintendent of the hospital.
In February this year, Safaricom Foundation in partnership with the County Government of Lamu, handed over a maternal shelter in Witu worth sh 6.8 million.
Under the programme the foundation has set aside sh 132 million for three years to promote Maternal, Newborn and Child Health services around the country.
“We want to advocate for access to maternal, neonatal and child health services health financing to ensure communities have access to healthcare when they need it and lastly use of technology to improve efficiency for results,” said Safaricom Foundation Trustee , Rita Okuthe.
