Chuka County Referral hospital has received medical equipment worth Sh7.2 million from the Hungarian and Austrian governments in a joint collaboration with Tharaka Nithi county government.
The two countries have also partnered with Prime Health Pharm Ltd as the exclusive distributors of the machines. The company will also provide 24 hour maintenance services.
They discussed cooperation in health care, agriculture and water harvesting technologies.
In his speech Hungarian ambassador Zsolt Meszaros said that his government is pleased to offer the hospital with a high quality hematology analyzer equipment for conducting various laboratory tests which will boost faster results for patients.
The ambassador however revealed that their main collaboration with Kenya is the 200 fully paid scholarships they are offering in various disciplines which makes it one of their biggest investments in the country.
Speaking at Chuka County Referral hospital, ambassador Meszaros encouraged medical personnel to apply for the scholarships in order to come back and boost the health sector in the country.
“We are pleased to bring this medical equipment but a greater investment between Kenya and Hungary is the scholarship programme because once you come back here you can empower more people making it a multi-billion investments,” he said.
On her part, Commercial Counsellor at the Austrian Embassy Ms. Edith Predorf said that the Austrian government’s main partnership with Kenya is the health sector.
She disclosed that the equipment will provide quality service in sample analysis of Kidney, Liver and Cardio tests done in the laboratories.
Ms. Predorf added that the equipment comes with a maintenance package including spare parts and the technology required to maintain it.
“This equipment is of the best quality and we are sure it will give patients the quality of service they deserve and we have partnered with a company that will ensure the equipment is well maintained,” she said.
The Austrian government is also collaborating with the Kenyan government in other sectors such as agriculture, Climate change and water management.
The commercial counsellor said that they aim to help the country advance in technology, increase agricultural produce and find climate change solutions.
Area governor Muthomi Njuki who received the donations from the ambassador thanked the government of Hungary and Austria saying the equipment will be put into good use to benefit the residents.
The governor expressed that the equipment will enable the hospital lab to conduct 250 tests per hour replacing the current 120 tests per hour.
This will reduce the long queue of waiting test result by patients in the laboratories and wards, he noted, adding that they hope to expand the service to other hospitals in the county based on the success of the machines.
Njuki disclosed that they will be collaborating with the Hungarian and Austrian governments in other fields such as agriculture and water.
During their discussion, the governor said that they agreed through the partnership on ways to establish modern technology in water harvesting to prevent water loss.
On agriculture they discussed how to invest in value addition for farmers to stop taking raw products to the market.
They also agreed on ways to leverage high level of technology in the medical, water and agriculture sector within the next five years which will be a great benefit to the people
The governor revealed they will also work with the Austrian government to boost tourism in the Mt. Kenya region.
Managing director Prime Health Pharm Ltd, George Kihara, said that the equipment is cost effective with accurate results and the patient is expected to spend less.
“Patients will spend less that Sh250 per test,” he said adding the company will also conduct training for laboratorians.
