Residents of Eluuya in Tongaren sub-county are set to benefit after the Bungoma County government set aside three million shillings to fund the construction of a dispensary. This will come as a relief for them given that they had to travel long distances in order to get medical help and facilities at other places. Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka, while addressing the Eluuya residents, said a delegation from the village had earlier visited him to express the need to have a medical facility started in the area after previously going through tough times whenever they wanted to access medical facilities.
Governor Lusaka said the construction will begin soon adding that medical services are vital. He said his government is working to ensure the services are available to residents.
He said the County government is committed to helping residents acquire medical services with ease, adding that the Naitiri sub-county hospital will be getting theatre equipment very soon as well as a maternity wing for the expectant mothers. Lusaka disclosed that the County government has also signed a memorandum of understanding with the Kenya Medical Supplies authority (KEMSA) to distribute drugs to all medical facilities in the County to avert the shortage that had previously been experienced.
Governor Lusaka further said that a tender for construction of the Misikhu-Brigadier road has already been advertised saying the County government and the national government will be funding the road equally so as to open up accessibility and boost the economy of the region.
However, he lashed out at politicians in opposing camps, calling upon them to desist political propaganda and insults saying as the first governor of Bungoma County, he has set the pace in terms of development and is confident that he will be re-elected. He also pledged to have street lights installed at Makunga and Eluuya markets to have the business people carry out their duties until late in the night.
Area politician John Chikati applauded the efforts of the County government to start up a dispensary at Eluuya saying it will help curb death rates among the residents who had previously found it hard to access medical facilities.
Chikati, who is also a director at Nzoia sugar company, assured residents of his continued support of the rehabilitation of roads in Tongaren constituency, saying that having a mutual relationship with the government helps spur development.
Area Member of County assembly Andrew Lichuma pledged to support the dispensary project saying as a ward, it has limited medical facilities yet residents are tax payers who are entitiled to such facilities provided by the government.
One of the area residents Caleb Wanyonyi said the dispensary, a community-based project, will help the residents but called upon the County government to ensure enough personnel are deployed at the facility.
