In less than two months, hospitals opened by President Uhuru Kenyatta have treated nearly 20,000 people.
The hospitals constructed in informal areas (slums) were constructed by the Nairobi Metropolitan Services headed by General Badi.
He was appointed by President Uhuru following the collapse of services at the Nairobi City County that was plagued by leadership problems.
The high numbers have schocked Nairobi residents and observers wondering just how bad the collapse of the health sector in the capital city was.
A shocked Solomon Kuria a resident and an official of the ruling Jubilee Party wondered where those seeking treatment were.
“The question is, where were all these people. This shows just how bad the situation was,” he wondered
He thanked the President for his visionary decision to intervene in the running of the City County of Nairobi.
The 16-bed capacity hospitals are part of 24 new Level 2 and 3 hospitals being constructed in Nairobi’s informal settlements.
At least 16,200 patients have been attended to at the four newly-opened Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) hospitals, easing pressure on access to healthcare in Nairobi’s informal settlements.
The success, recorded in only a month, has eased pressure on Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) and Mama Lucy Hospital.
The four hospitals – Muthua-Uthiru, Ushirika in Dandora, Kiamaiko and Kayole-Soweto – were commissioned by President Uhuru Kenyatta in late February.
The 16-bed capacity hospitals are part of 24 new Level 2 and 3 hospitals being constructed across Nairobi’s informal settlements at a cost of Sh2 billion.
According to data from NMS Health directorate of Health at NMS, since the unveiling of the four health facilities, a total of 16,208 patients have sought treatment at the hospitals.
Uthiru hospital has attended to 5,974 patients followed by Kayole-Soweto with 3,774, Ushirika hospital with 3,541 and Kiamaiko at 2,919.
Quality healthcare services
During the period up to March 1, 2021, a total of 41 deliveries have been recorded at the hospitals with 17 at Uthiru, 11 in Kayole-Soweto, eight in Kiamaiko and five in Ushirika.
A total of 737 patients have sought both ante-natal and post-natal care with a huge percentage of them in Uthiru and Kayole-Soweto.
Another 750 have visited the hospitals in search of family planning services, 1,380 for immunization, another 718 for laboratory services and 1,771 for nutritional care.
However, the bulk of the patients have been those over five years accounting for 6,963 while those aged below five years standing at 3,796.
“A total of 47 percent of walk-in patients at KNH are drawn from Nairobi and by creating accessible, affordable and quality healthcare services in informal settlements through these new hospitals, we intend to reduce the number significantly,” said NMS Health Secretary Dr Ouma Oluga.
New health facilities
As part of the new health facilities, Gatina hospital in Kawangware and Gichagi in Kangemi are complete awaiting commissioning.
The others at Mukuru kwa Reuben, Mukuru kwa Njenga, Riruta-Satelite and Lunga Lunga are at advanced stage of completion. The 19 new hospitals comprise of 10 Level 2 facilities while the rest are Level 3.
The Level 2 include Sinai in Viwandani, Soweto-Kayole, Ngomongo-Korogocho, New Mathare-Kiamaiko, Lucky Summer, Gatina in Kawangware, Ushirika in Dandora, Zimmerman, Gumba in Mathare and Gichagi in Kangemi.
Level 3 ones include Pumwani-Majengo, Tassia kwa Ndege, Mukuru Kwa Njenga, Mukuru kwa Reuben, Kianda 42-Kibera, Ngundu – Kamulu, Karura – Mwiki, Uthiru Muthua and Githurai kwa Chief.
The five hospitals being refurbished include Lunga Lunga, Upendo, Riruta Satelite, Dandora 2 and Kibera Chief Camp in Soweto East.
