SEME, Oct 2026 –The Catholic Archdiocese of Kisumu has launched a Sh 70 million hospital project at Our Lady Help of the Sick Barkorwa Health Centre in Seme, Kisumu County to bring surgical and inpatient services closer to residents.
The proposed 45-bed facility, which is scheduled for completion within three years, is expected to significantly expand the health centre’s capacity to serve patients across Seme Sub-County and its environs.
The launch was marked by the official opening of the facility’s new operating theatre and the groundbreaking ceremony for the new hospital block on Saturday.
Speaking during the ceremony, Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Kisumu Vincent Ouma Odundo said the project was in line with the church’s healing mission while complementing the government’s mandate to provide healthcare.
“Health care is the prerogative of the government. The Church has comes in to complement and support the government, and that is why we need the partnership, which has always been there,” Bishop Odundo said.
He said the expanded facility will spare residents the strain of travelling long distances to access specialised treatment and surgical services.
However, the bishop raised concern over delays by the government in reimbursing faith-based health institutions for services already rendered to patients, warning that the financial lag is severely impairing operations.
“Most of our facilities render services, but reimbursement from the government is not forthcoming. We have submitted claims, but there is no reimbursement,” he said.
Bishop Odundo appealed for prompt settlement of all outstanding claims, noting that church-run facilities are not seeking favours but legitimate funds owed for services delivered.
He said faith-based facilities continue to admit and treat patients out of moral duty and commitment to community service even when financial strain makes service delivery nearly impossible, and urged the government to strengthen its working relationship with church-run institutions to safeguard their sustainability.
Superior General of the Franciscan Sisters of St. Anna, Sister Mary Beninia Aoko, described the launch as a historic milestone for the local community and the religious order behind the initiative.
Sister Aoko said the project had been envisioned for many years, expressing confidence that the new theatre and the proposed hospital will alleviate suffering for patients in need of surgery.
“For years, we have had people suffering from different conditions that required operations, but they had to travel far and wide to get them,” she said, adding that the expanded facility will address challenges faced by patients who previously had to seek specialised care outside their community.
Representing the Ministry of Health and the County Government of Kisumu, Seme Sub-County health official Were Saima said the new hospital will complement existing public health institutions and broaden access to essential care at the grassroots.
Saima confirmed that once fully operational, the hospital will offer scheduled surgical procedures and caesarean sections, a development he said will relieve pressure on Kombewa County Hospital and strengthen referral networks when higher-level emergency care is required.
“This facility is going to help decongest Kombewa Sub-County Hospital and ensure people living in this area have access to quality health care right at their door step,” he said.
He said the expansion aligns directly with the government’s Primary Care Network (PCN) strategy, which focuses on linking health facilities to bring essential medical services closer to communities.
He commended the Catholic Church for investing in local health infrastructure and called on the facility’s management and clinical staff to maintain professional standards and deliver quality patient care.
Responding to the reimbursement concerns raised by Bishop Odundo, Saima acknowledged that health facilities have encountered technical and administrative challenges in meeting government compliance requirements under the e-contracting system.
He assured stakeholders that the sub-county health management team will assist the facility in securing all required certifications and documentation, expressing optimism that the government will resolve the reimbursement bottleneck affecting healthcare providers in the region.
