By John Majau
The Meru County Government in partnership with the National Government is set to establish two more medical training colleges at Kanyakine and Miathene Level 4 Hospitals in Imenti South and Tigania West Sub-Counties.
The decision comes following comprehensive consultations and intervention between the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) and Governor Kiraitu Murungi.
The creation of the two which are expected to enroll the pioneer students this September are meant to complement the Meru town campus which was founded in 1979 and currently hosts 780 students.
Kiraitu said the additional two colleges will boost medical training and ensure the success of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Agenda 4 which entails Universal Health Coverage for all Kenyans.
He said that his administration will provide resources to improve infrastructure by carrying out renovations and putting up new structures to expand the colleges apart from admitting more students and more courses.
At Kanyakine, St. Aloysius Primary School will be converted to a college while at Miathene, the first block of classrooms and offices have been constructed.
Ten classrooms at the former St. Aloysius Primary School in South Imenti Constituency and the two hostels at the institution will host the trainees while Kanyakine Hospital will provide clinical services which are necessary for training the students.
The KMTC Board Chairman Dr. Eng. David Muthoga who was accompanied by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Prof Michael Kiptoo was hosted by the Governor when they unveiled the two new training colleges.
The team approved the two institutions and the KMTC Chairman announced that the first batch of students will be admitted into the two colleges from September this year.
At the moment KMTC is striving to churn out 1000 health workers annually in a bid to help the country meet universal health coverage.
Speaking in Meru when he announced plans to set up two more campuses in the county, KMTC CEO said they were keen on achieving the Vision 2030 social pillar and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“KMTC produces 80 per cent of the middle level personnel in the health sector but we want to open more campuses to meet the target of 1000 workers every year. We want to have three campuses in Meru to increase intake of health students,” Prof Kiptoo said.
