The construction of a model health facility at Maungu trading centre in Nyangala division, Voi district will ease congestion at the Voi District Hospital.

The construction work of sh16 million project was at 15 percent as at mid July this year when public works permanent secretary Prof John Krop Lonyangapuo toured projects under the Economic Stimulus Programme in Voi District.

The project that is funded by the Ministry of Public health and sanitation will have an in-patient department where the patients will be admitted. The project whose completion was due by July 24 is strategically situated to cater for accident victims along the Mombasa/Nairobi Highway.

Currently Voi district hospital is the only health facility with an in-patient department while the rest are health centres and dispensaries which concentrate to out-patient services.

Area MP Dan Mwazo said that recently the model facility once completed will come handy particularly to patients from the southern part of the district. He added only patients requiring specialized treatment will be revered to Voi hospital.

He underscored the need to expand the district hospital so as to enable it to meet the requirements of the new challenges. The MP said the construction of the maternity block at the cost of Sh17million was one of the interventions put by the government to ensure wananchi get quality services within reach.

The district hospital, which was constructed during the colonial era, has been undergoing a face lift in phases. The casualty wing was recently opened by President Mwi Kibaki and has been handy for accident victims along the Nairobi/Mombasa highway.