New NMS hospitals record 16,000 patients
At least 16,208 patients have been attended to at the four new Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) hospitals two months after they were commissioned.
NMS says the facilities have eased pressure on Kenyatta National Hospital, Mama Lucy and Mbagathi hospitals where most city residents, especially from the informal settlements, would flock for healthcare services.
The four hospitals are Uthiru-Muthua, New Mathari in Kiamaiko, Ushirika in Dandora and Soweto in Kayole.
They were commissioned by President Uhuru Kenyatta in February to boost healthcare access in informal settlements.
NMS Director General Mohammed Badi says the new facilities have ensured that patients who walk into KNH for inpatient services have reduced by about 47 per cent as the new facilities are easily accessible, affordable and offer quality healthcare services.
“By creating accessible, affordable and quality healthcare services in informal settlements through these new hospitals, we intend to reduce the number of patients going to KNH significantly,” he said.
While launching the hospitals, Uhuru said their construction had proved that development can be made accessible anywhere in Nairobi with very little money.
“The public can now access health services without having to travel all the way to KNH and I am proud of the good work the NMS Director-General and his team have done.”
Nutrition services
Data from NMS Health directorate shows 16,208 patients have sought services at the facilities since they were unveiled.
At Muthua Hospital, 5,974 patients visited the facility in the past two months.
Statistics show 736 patients sought nutrition services, 928 (immunisation), 38 for post-natal care, 326 for antenatal care, 373 (family planning), 366 (laboratory services) and 17 (maternity).
Another 3,541 patients went to Ushirika Hospital in Dandora with 1,057 below five years.
The data indicates that 267 patients sought nutrition services, 158 were immunised, 59 sought antenatal care, 113 went for family planning services, 144 sought laboratory services and five seen for maternity services.
At the New Mathari Hospital, 2,919 patients have been served their since the facility opened its doors.
“Before this hospital was established, we would suffer to acquire basic health care services.
Most of us would go to KNH and spend even more than 12 hours before being attended to, but today, we are happy that we have this hospital here,” said Michael Githaiga, a resident of Kiamaiko.
Some 681 patients were aged five and below.
At the Soweto hospital in Kayole, 3,774 patients went to seek services with 1,089 being under five years.
Data shows 413 patients sought nutrition services, 232 immunisation, 15 postnatal care, 269 antenatal care, 197 family planning, nine sought laboratory services, 11 maternity while 76 needed services at the Comprehensive Care Centre.
Badi said they have even managed to recover several ambulances as part of improving health care in the capital.
