The National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) General Secretary Reverend Canon Peter Karanja today met and held discussions with Church leaders from Western Kenya. The one-day meeting at Kaimosi Teachers College in Vihiga, centered on how to improve health and economic well being of the region. Canon Karanja told the gathering that though a lot had been done in tackling poverty and diseases in the country, more was yet to be realized. He impressed upon the leadership to be in the forefront in addressing such issues. Canon Karanja said that though poverty had generally reduced nationally, the common person was still living in abject poverty. He pointed out that the Council will continue working with various partners to address such ills in society. “The church has contributed greatly to the fight against poverty and ignorance in the country. Considering that NCCK was the first to start village polytechnics in the country with a view of addressing education challenges, we will continue charting this path,” said Canon Karanja. He spoke when he met over 120 church leaders from Western Kenya region to brief them on NCCK’s interventions in the health sector in the region. During the meeting, Friends United Church and Canon Karanja signed a take-over agreement of Kaimosi Mission Hospital-now renamed Jumuia Friends Hospital Kaimosi – formerly handing it to the Council. Canon Karanja was accompanied by his Deputy Oliver Kisaka who called on the leaders to always call upon the Lord to prosper. Under the agreement, the Council will refurbish and equip the hospital with modern facilities and employ qualified medical personnel aimed at offering quality and affordable healthcare in the area. The Council also plans to upscale the services by putting up a morgue and rehabilitate the hospital’s maternity facility. The church leaders lauded the Council for the initiative terming it a step in the right direction. They expressed optimism that once fully refurbished, Jumuia Friends Hospital Kaimosi will treat most of the illnesses that have forced majority of their congregants to seek medical attention in far flung areas. “Most of the locals here had stopped seeking treatment at the hospital owing to lack of proper services and medicare. We thank NCCK for the intervention and look forward to working with them to improve services at the hospital,” they said. The more than 75 bed capacity referral hospital, was built over 100 years ago . Once fully operational, Jumuia Friends Hospital Kaimosi is expected to drastically reduce medical expenses by the locals through its affordable rates. Jumuia Friends Hospital Kaimosi will be NCCK’s pioneer medical facility under Jumuia Hospitals chain.
Jumuia Friends Hospital To Undergo A Face Lift: Canon Karanja
