Governor Sakaja’s administration has prioritized health sector by ensuring continued flow of medical supplies and commodities to health facilities, broadening access to essential services, strengthening primary healthcare, digitizing health operations, scaling up National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to various county health facilities.
In quest to streamline improved healthcare infrastructure and steady provision of quality services, Sakaja through chief officer for health facilities Mr Geoffrey Mosiria has been keen on the course of addressing the stalemate of medical supplies to all county health facilities by ensuring steady distribution of medical commodities and supplies to the facilities.
In March 2023, the county boss unveiled the first-ever Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Renal Unit, Blood Bank and Children playground at Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital.
He also revealed that the county is set to launch the second public ICU at Mbagathi Hospital that seeks to decongest Mama Lucy Hospital and avail emergency services to city residents.
“In six months, we unveiled the first ICU in the County at the Mama Lucy Hospital. In the coming days, we will launch a unit that will provide newborn nursery, special care nursery, and neonatal intensive care services at the Mbagathi Hospital” said Sakaja during Madaraka Day Celebration at Joe Kadenge ground, formerly City stadium.
“I want to re affirm my commitment to transforming and modernising county health facilities for the provision of affordable and quality healthcare services to Nairobi residents,” he added.
Hon. Sakaja also informed that the newly installed state-of-art modern newborn unit that will house Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) intends to provide newborn nursery, special care nursery and neonatal intensive care services at the facility.
He revealed that the much-anticipated launch of the newborn unit will happen mid June, 2023.
“I’m committed to transforming and modernizing the county health facilities through equipping with medical supplies and commodities, human resource and providing essential health equipment for effective service delivery to the people of Nairobi” Sakaja said during the impromptu visit at Mbagathi Hospital.
The chief officer for Health Facilities echoed Sakaja’s promise to fully equip newborn units with fully fledged infectious diseases units at Pumwani Maternity, Mama Lucy Kibaki and the proposed Mama Rachel Ruto Hospital in Mutuini.
Mr Mosiria also revealed that Sakaja’s administration has successfully installed brand new modern elevators at Pumwani Maternity Hospital to ease movement of mothers in labour and delivery units.
Through his socials, Sakaja reiterated that the obsolete lift at the facility had broken down decades ago inconveniencing the movement of patients in labour and delivery units at the facility. Sakaja also installed new generator as backup during power blackout.
“The current ones (lifts) broke down in the very early 1980s. Before I was born. We now have brand new lifts being installed. Also, a brand new generator will be installed for power back up, the current one will be serviced and moved to Pumwani College of Nursing,” said Governor Sakaja.
The move is part of the Governor’s administration to offer the people of Nairobi dignified health care services, especially to mothers.
Patients have in the past had to use the stairways. The installation of the new modern elevators and top of the range generators are expected to reduce risk of injuries, provide safe, comfortable and reliable movement of patients at the facility.
Sakaja’s administration has also been keen on rebranding and renaming city mortuary to Nairobi Funeral Home in bid to avail better services and restore the glory of the mortuary.
“We must give our people dignity. We have no option” he said while accompanied with Mr Mosiria during the inspection of the ongoing modification.
The facility, the largest government owned mortuary in East and Central Africa has been undergoing facelift and installation of new cooling units and cold rooms.
The renovation will see corridors, waiting bay, reception areas and body viewing rooms improved.
“We have installed new coolers and also improving the reception areas, waiting bays, viewing rooms to give the bodies decent sendoff services” said Mosiria.
Governor Sakaja also stressed plans to construct a chapel at the government facility. The chapel will provide room for conducting funeral services for those unable to secure a church facility.
