A Sh36.2 million newborn facility under construction at Msambweni County Referral Hospital is expected to improve health services in Kwale county.
The facility will offer specialised treatment to newborns with complications.
The facility is jointly funded by the M-Pesa Foundation and the Kwale government.
It has a bed capacity of 50 and is set to supplement the old maternal unit, which has 21 beds.
The new facility is expected to be ready and start offering services to residents in three months.
The newborn health facility will have an intensive care unit, a high dependency unit, nursery rooms, a kangaroo room, laundry services and staff lodge.
It will also be equipped with incubators, beds, baby cots and resuscitation equipment.
Governor Fatuma Achani said the project aims to provide critical services to reduce infant mortality rates.
"The county hopes to reduce infant mortality rates, encourage skilled newborn care and reduce neonatal complications through this facility," she said.
Achani said her administration is dedicated to providing quality and affordable healthcare services to residents.
She said good health leads to a more productive society, which promotes development.
Achani said the expected newborn unit will effectively transform the lives of women and children who need special treatment.
The governor said for many years, residents have been suffering in search of crucial newborn health services, while others have been incurring huge costs in private hospitals.
She said the facility seeks to support the county's efforts in strengthening maternal, neonatal and general healthcare services.
Achani commended Safaricom for their support, saying it is through partnerships that the country can achieve its development goals.
She said Safaricom has shown great commitment to supporting the county through various agricultural projects.
"We appreciate your great support in uplifting the lives of the community without forgetting your massive input in constructing the Nyalani dam," Achani said.
Achani said the county requested assistance in setting up the newborn unit and the Safaricom Foundation responded swiftly. She said more plans are underway to enter into partnerships to bring massive development and improve the lives of residents.
Achani said the county will ensure the newborn unit has adequate staff and is operational enough to handle the anticipated influx of patients to the much-anticipated facility.
She said the staff will be equipped with the necessary skills to initiate and maintain newborn death prevention measures. They include educating mothers on recommended sleeping positions to avoid sudden death in infancy and infant death syndrome and providing proper nutrition interventions for mothers and their babies.
A trustee from the M-Pesa Foundation, Anne Eriksson, said they have been actively partnering with the county government through various projects.
Eriksson said M-Pesa and Safaricom Foundation have invested more than Sh316 million in various projects in agricultural and the educational sectors.
She promised further support in key areas of collaboration as part of the efforts to give back to the community.
Ramisi ward rep Hanifa Mwajirani hailed the partnerships between the county and Safaricom, saying the projects are changing the lives of the Kwale people.
She said the expected newborn unit will be a game changer to women's and children's health in the county.
Mwajirani said the process of child birthing is crucial and requires special attention and services.
Resident Mohammed Tosha welcomed the initiative, terming it a milestone achievement in the health sector.
He said more lives will be saved, hence improving the general public health.
