President Kenyatta launches $8.61 million Key Health Facilities

By Samuel Ouma President Uhuru Kenyatta commissioned three state-of-the-art health facilities at the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) in Nairobi City County on Wednesday, May 11, 2022. The facilities were built using a combination of government funds and donations from development partners and benefactors led by the Zarina Merali Foundation. They include the Zarina Merali Surgical Daycare Centre, the Centre for Kidney Disease and Organ Transplantation, and Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics Laboratory. President Kenyatta stated during the ceremony that the inauguration of the facilities demonstrates the tremendous advancements in the country's healthcare system achieved under his leadership. "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. On the other hand, he said that the new Centre for Kidney Disease and Organ Transplantation will complement KNH's 'Interlife' program, aiming to improve kidney transplantation services in the country. It will also strengthen the referral hospital's position as an East African regional centre of expertise in managing kidney disorders. The facility features two fully-equipped theatres, a 17-bed capacity ward, a resource centre, clinics, and a seminar room. Kenyan head of state further stated that KNH's new Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics Laboratory, the first of its type in East Africa, will considerably facilitate organ and tissue transplants by completing 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. On the Zarina Merali Surgical Daycare Centre, Kenyatta said the facility will assist in faster management of patients, reduce congestion in the wards, reduce pre-and post-surgical admissions, and cut down theatre waiting times by enabling same-day surgeries and discharges.