“Hewa Tele”is a joint venture by the General Electric (GE) Foundation, the Centre for Population Health and Development, Siaya County and the National Government . The oxygen plant dubbed is the first of its kind in the County.
The First Lady described Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) initiatives as a new approach to mobilize resources to meet the country’s health needs in a sustainable manner.
“This plant, which offers a lifeline to Siaya residents and beyond, demonstrates what we can achieve with the right partnerships between the government and the private sector,” she said.
The First Lady said Kenyans’ wide array of genuine demands from their county governments are putting serious strains on limited resources, hence the need for strategic partnerships.
She said an increase in the use of Oxygen can reduce under-five mortality by 35% and provide additional life-saving benefits in other healthcare contexts including surgery and obstetrics.
Adding, “This Hewa Tele facility provides adequate supplies of Oxygen, a critical and vital component in health care delivery that is often overlooked as a necessity in hospitals.”
The Plant will also provide affordable Oxygen to public and private facilities in the region that would otherwise refer patients to other hospitals due to lack of Oxygen, she added.
The First Lady said the public private partnership project is a transformative initiative ‘established where the need is most urgent’ and is worthy to be replicated in other counties.