Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. during the official commissioning of Ngaakaa Health Facility in January 2026. The facility is enhancing access to quality healthcare services for residents of Ngaakaa and neighbouring communities./HANDOUT
For 27-year-old Esther Mutheu of Ngaakaa Village in Makindu Ward, the birth of her daughter, Zawadi, marked more than a personal milestone; it highlighted the impact of accessible healthcare services within her community.
On Tuesday, a beaming Esther brought her week-old baby to Ngaakaa Health Centre for a regular check-up.
The facility, established earlier this year through a partnership between the County Government of Makueni, World Vision and Mountain Blue Foundation, has become a lifeline for residents seeking quality healthcare closer to home.
Esther delivered her baby at the facility on June 14 and says the experience was smooth and reassuring. Located just a 20-minute walk from her homestead, the health centre has significantly reduced the distance residents previously had to travel to access essential medical services.
The World Health Organisation recommends that health facilities be located within a maximum distance of five kilometres or about a one-hour walk from the communities they serve.
In Makueni, efforts by Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr.'s administration to expand access to primary healthcare are helping bring services even closer to residents, ensuring timely access to routine care, maternal health services and emergency treatment.
According to Esther, labour pains began at around 2 a.m. A quick phone call to a boda boda rider enabled her to reach the facility in good time.
Upon arrival, she was attended to promptly by healthcare workers who now reside at the facility, making her delivery experience both safe and memorable.
Benson Musyoka, Nurse-in-Charge at Ngaakaa Health Facility, attends to one-month-old Zawadi during a regular check-up on Tuesday. The infant was safely delivered at the facility to Esther Mutheu/HANDOUT
For Ngaakaa Health Centre Committee Chairperson Julius Musila, the facility's presence carries deep personal significance. He recalls a painful experience years ago when his late father required urgent medical attention during the night.
At the time, the nearest facility was Makindu Sub-County Hospital, and the long journey proved costly.
Musila says the loss of his father remains a painful memory and believes that access to a nearby health facility could have made a difference.
Speaking during a routine visit by county health officials on Tuesday, residents praised Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. for fostering partnerships that continue to improve healthcare access in rural communities. They urged the governor to pursue more collaborations to enhance service delivery and improve the well-being of Makueni residents.
Esther Mutheu outside the Ngaakaa Health Facility on Tuesday. She had brought her one-week-old baby, Zawadi, for a routine health check-up at the facility/HANDOUT
Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. notes that money previously spent by residents to cover their transport while seeking healthcare in distant facilities can now be redirected to other household and economic activities, thanks to the availability of services within their locality.
Governor Mutula lauded the partnership between the County Government of Makueni and World Vision in establishing the facility, describing it as a modern health centre equipped to provide quality healthcare services.
Mutula further noted that there is room for expansion to accommodate additional services in the future, as the county continues to strengthen access to quality healthcare for residents across the county.
