New renal units at Mama Lucy Hospital./HANDOUT
Nairobi has expanded its public healthcare capacity with 224 newborn care units and 23 new neonatal intensive care units established across county facilities over the past four years, Governor Johnson Sakaja says.
“Over the last four years, we have added 224 newborn units, 23 neonatal ICUs and 20 adult ICUs across Nairobi. Facilities that previously lacked the capacity to safely handle complicated births can now deliver babies and provide specialised care. This is the healthy transformation of our public health system that we promised Nairobi,” Sakaja said.
Speaking about the changes in Nairobi’s healthcare system, Sakaja cited Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital, Mama Margaret Uhuru Hospital and Mbagathi Hospital among facilities that have received new neonatal intensive care capacity.
New renal units at Mama Lucy Hospital./HANDOUT
He said county health facilities previously had no ICU capacity.
The expansion has also included maternity theatres and Caesarean section services in facilities across the city.
Sakaja pointed to Mathare North, which has performed 65 Caesarean sections since November despite being a relatively small facility.
New renal units at Mama Lucy Hospital./HANDOUT
New renal units at Mama Lucy Hospital./HANDOUT
Other facilities that have benefited from expanded maternity services include Riruta, Pumwani-Malenga, Kasarani and Ruai.
“From Mama Lucy, Mama Margaret Uhuru and Mbagathi to Mathare North, Riruta, Pumwani-Malenga, Kasarani and Ruai, we are bringing specialised maternity services closer to our people,” Sakaja said.
The county has also expanded renal care, with Sakaja saying the renal unit at Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital treated 113 patients in August alone.
He said the service is covered under the Social Health Authority (SHA), reducing the financial burden on patients and improving access to specialised care within county facilities.
“Our expanded renal unit at Mama Lucy alone attended to 113 patients in August, with these services covered under SHA. Patients who previously had to seek care elsewhere at high cost can now receive it in our own county facilities,” Sakaja said.
The governor said the investments represent a shift from basic healthcare provision towards a system with greater capacity to handle high-risk pregnancies, premature and critically ill newborns, specialised maternity procedures and chronic conditions such as kidney disease.
The county says the expanded neonatal and adult intensive-care units, maternity theatres and renal services are intended to improve access to specialised treatment closer to where Nairobi residents live, reducing the need to travel elsewhere for care.
