The Kenya Medical Training College Board (KMTCB) has given the green light on establishment of a medical training college in Lugari Sub County in Kakamega County.
Briefing the press after inspecting the proposed site for the new college at Mlimani Sub county Hospital, KMTCB chairperson, Professor Philip Kaloki expressed the board’s satisfaction with infrastructural development s far done at the place under stewardship of the area Member of Parliament, Mr. Ayub Savula.
“As a board we are satisfied by investment put in by the National Constituency Development Fund (NCDF) under leadership of Savula,” remarked Kaloki.
Besides buying the 5 acre piece of land where the college will sit on, the CDF office has already constructed one main office and several lecture halls in readiness for official commissioning of the medical college.
According to the board chairperson, the college that is situated in Mautuma ward and which is expected to officially be opened in September will be the second medical institute in the county after Kakamega Medical Training College.
“At least thirty percent of student enrolment will be spared for locals of Kakamega County,” disclosed Kaloki, adding the project was fully supported by President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto.
The official revealed Jubilee administration had embarked opening up more medical training colleges in order to address the problem of scarcity of medical practitioners.
“The health sector is currently grappling with a shortage of close to 40,000 clinical officers and nurses,” noted Kaloki.
The official noted a total of 26,000 students currently studying within the board’s 56 campuses across the country were inadequate to address the need.
“The campuses admit about 8,500 students in total, with a similar number graduating annually,” he added.
He further noted an average of 45 percent of graduates from the medical colleges opts for lucrative job contracts offered by the private sector and foreign countries other than working for government owned health facilities.
Professor Kaloki was flanked by his host, Savula and health workers drawn from the sub county led by Sub County Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Mike Ekisa.
Savula thanked the national government through the board accepting to establish the medical college in his constituency.