Sakaja tasks KMPDC to inspect county hospitals, identify gaps

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja at Parliament buildings, Nairobi, December 7, 2022 [Elv.is Ogina, Standard]

Nairobi county government is in the process of revamping the health sector in efforts to boost service delivery.

Governor Johnson Sakaja told the Senate Health Committee that he plans to ensure public hospitals have adequate equipment, qualified staff and drugs.

The governor said he is in talks with President William Ruto to support Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital.

The hospital has been facing challenges affecting its service delivery.

"I am currently setting up my government. I am assuring city residents that we are going to have the best medical facilities under my watch, we are planning to employ 4,000 members of staff to serve in our public health facilities across the city in the new year," he said.

Mr Sakaja noted that most medical facilities lack adequate doctors, clinical officers and nurses which has made the available medics in public hospitals to strain.

He told the committee that the county government had reached out to Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council to conduct a joint inspection of all health facilities in the county, especially Level Five facilities, to identify gaps that need urgent attention.

He told the committee that Level Five hospital in the county have emergency preparedness and management committees.

The Senate Standing Committee on Health is chaired by Jackson Mandago (Uasin Gishu Senator).

"Nairobi County has eight advanced life support ambulances and 15 basic supports, with the ambulances stationed at the county hospitals as well as the primary health care facilities at the sub-counties for easy access to the community," said Sakaja.

The governor noted that Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital lacks an Intensive Care Unit, necessitating referrals to other facilities or counties and assured of plans to revamp it to match its Level Five status.

Committee vice chairperson Mariam Omar (Nominated), and senators Joseph Nyutu (Murang'a), Okong'o Omogeni (Nyamira), Esther Okenyuri (Nominated) and Hamida Kibwana (Nominated) were present when the Nairobi governor made his presentation to the MPs.