By Andrew Wasike and Magdalene Mukami
HOLA, Kenya (AA) - Turkey’s state-run aid agency on Thursday provided vital medical equipment to a hospital in Kenya's Coast region, in order to help prevent infant and maternal mortality.
While handing over the medical equipment to the Hola District Hospital in Tana River County, Ahmet Guc, Deputy Coordinator of the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency's (TIKA) office in capital Nairobi said that ”the donation will go a long way to saving lives of children born in Tana River county who are the most vulnerable, especially those born prematurely".
The Hola District Hospital, despite being the largest in the county, is not well equipped to cater for the population which has been constantly ballooning over the years.
Turkish ambassador to Kenya, Deniz Eke, who has been at the forefront in the fight to reduce maternal and infant mortality in the eastern African country told Anadolu Agency that women and children, and their health, in particular, were among Turkey’s top priorities in its development cooperation with Kenya.
"Indeed, infant and maternal mortality are real challenges but they are also preventable. I am so happy that the equipment Turkey is providing to Hola District Hospital today will save many young lives, who will then be the guarantors of a healthy and bright future for Kenya," Eke said.
The ambassador added that the handover coincided with Africa Day, which was celebrated in Turkey, too.
"We find the chance to contribute to those celebrations from Kenya with a small but valuable step. We wish a happy and prosperous Africa Day to all Kenyan friends, and to Africa," she added.
Regional Governor Hussein Dado, for his part, thanked the Turkish people for their generosity and noted that the equipment would help save thousands of lives lost annually due to insufficient medical equipment.
According to TIKA, Tana River County has significantly high infant mortality rates (66 per 1,000 live births) compared to the national average of 40.71 deaths per 1,000 live births. Under-five child mortality is also high at 80 per 1,000 live births against the country’s 52 per 1,000 live births.
Among the donated equipment are baby incubators, cots, electric suction machines, resuscitation kits, and paediatric blood pressure monitors among many others.