Nine Constituent Colleges started new courses in this year's September intake, increasing last year's pre-service admission by more than 10 percent from 5571 to 6149.
Kitui MTC started three new programmes: Clinical Medicine with 50 students, Environmental Health Sciences (50 students) and Certificate in Health Records and Information (60 students), bringing to five the total number of courses offered at one of the new Colleges.
Siaya, which previously offered certificate in Health Records and Information, started a diploma programme in the same course. Nyamira MTC will open its doors in March to accommodate 40 nursing students while Homa Bay MTC for the first time offers certificate in Nutrition to 60 students.
Kisumu, which last year started Medical Imaging Sciences, engaged another expansion gear, starting Pharmacy with 60 students, same as Nakuru MTC.
Medical Imaging Sciences was this year started at two Colleges: Eldoret and Mombasa MTCs, each with 30 students.
At 10.2 percent, this year's growth in student intake, which is anchored on the KMTC expansion policy, more than triples KMTC's 3 percent annual expansion rate. The College's growth is meant to bridge the big gap of skills in the Kenya's health sector and help realise Vision 2030 and Millennium Development Goals.
Statistics show appalling trends. For example, for every 100,000 people in Kenya, there are 11 clinical officers only, two public health officers and 15 public health technicians, which are far below the World Health Organisations' recommended staffing levels.
The expansion at KMTC is demand driven. According to the KMTC Director Dr. Olang'o Onudi, the College barely meets 20 percent of qualified applicants expressing desire to train at the College each year.
According to the Deputy Registrar in charge of admission Mr. Thomas Kisukwa, cost of starting a program, human resource availability and physical infrastructure are some of the key considerations made before starting a new programme at KMTC. Expansion must also be approved by regulatory bodies as well as availability of clinical areas, he says.
Last year, Nyeri started Medical Imaging Sciences and Pharmacy as Kisumu started MIS. Embu started Clinical Medicine while Msambweni started certificate in Health Records and Information.
The biggest headache for the college management remains staffing to ensure a match between expansion and quality training.
