President Kenyatta opens three Ksh.1 billion health facilities at KNH
President Uhuru Kenyatta on Wednesday
inaugurated three state-of-the-art health facilities at the Kenyatta National
Hospital (KNH) in Nairobi City County, built and equipped at a cost of Ksh.1
billion.
The facilities that include the Zarina Merali
Surgical Daycare Centre; the Centre for Kidney Disease & Organ
Transplantation; and Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics Laboratory, were
developed using a mix of Government funds and donations from development
partners and philanthropists led by Zarina Merali Foundation.
Speaking during the event, President Kenyatta
noted that the inauguration of the facilities demonstrates the vast
improvements in the country’s healthcare system achieved during his tenure of
office.
“Additionally, this event demonstrates a
genuine desire to bequeath current and future generations of Kenyans, with
world-class facilities that deliver superlative health services for all,”
President Kenyatta said.
He observed that the new Centre for Kidney
Disease & Organ Transplantation will enhance KNH's ‘Interlife’ programme,
whose objective is to revamp kidney transplantation services in the country.
So far, the President said KNH had
successfully performed over 200 kidney transplants under the interlife
programme adding that the new facility will further cement the referral
hospital's standing as a regional centre of excellence in the management of
kidney diseases in East Africa.
“This facility, which features two fully
equipped theatres, a 17-bed capacity ward, a resource centre, clinics, and a
seminar room; was established at a cost of Ksh.200 million. With this facility
in operation, our patients are no longer at risk of infections that could
otherwise have interfered with preferred clinical outcomes,” the President
said.
On KNH's new Histocompatibility and
Immunogenetics Laboratory, the first of its kind in East Africa, the President
said the facility will greatly support organ and tissue transplants by
conducting donor and recipient matching locally.
“In this state-of-the-art centre, any kidney
transplant patient can receive post-transplant care and clinical reviews from
our specialists regardless of whether the surgery was done locally or outside
the country,” he said.
The Head of State thanked Mrs Zarina Merali,
who was present, for her philanthropic contribution to the development of the
surgical daycare centre saying, the facility will act as preparation and
recovery for patients requiring outpatient surgeries.
He said the facility will assist in faster
management of patients, reduce congestion in the wards besides reducing pre-
and post-surgical admissions as well as cut down theatre waiting times by
enabling same-day surgeries and discharges.
“I have been taken round this facility and I
can attest to its state-of-the-art theatres; world class equipment; and its
well-trained and dedicated personnel, who, I am assured, are ready to offer a
wide range of ambulatory surgeries – that is, cosmetic, dental, gynaecology, and
endoscopic surgeries, to name but a few.
“I have further been informed that patients
who have undergone surgery through this arrangement are really grateful because
they have gone home to recuperate in the comfort of their homes, surrounded by
their loved ones; which research has shown leads to better clinical
outcomes for patients,” President Kenyatta said.
Saying the Government was keen on making KNH
a premier specialist hospital, the President noted that investments made by his
administration are now bearing fruit, and urged health workers to remain
focused on service delivery.
“As we were going round I was informed by the
CEO that as a result of the hospitals that we have built in various estates
across Nairobi, the number of walk-in patients who used to congest KNH has come
down from about 500 everyday to 100, therefore allowing us to focus our
attention on making this hospital the premier specialist hospital not only in
Kenya but in the region, and that is what we want you to be doing,” he said.
Health CS Mutahi Kagwe, who also spoke at the
launch, thanked President Kenyatta for his continued championing of improved
healthcare across the country.
"In the last two years, we have done
many firsts through your support and encouragement. We have done a first in
terms of cancer care in Kenyatta University, Mombasa and in a number of
hospitals that are available in Nairobi and we have done a first today and we
will continue. This can only be done with the leadership that you provide to
us. Without your support, this would not have been possible," CS Kagwe
said.
Other speakers included Chairman of the KNH
Board of Directors George Ooko, and Mrs Zarina Merali of Zarina Merali
Foundation.
Want to send us a story? SMS to 25170 or WhatsApp 0743570000 or Submit on Citizen Digital or email wananchi@royalmedia.co.ke
Comments
No comments yet.
Leave a Comment