- The newly commissioned Level 2 and 3 hospitals within Nairobi's informal settlements are offering the Covid-19 vaccine.
- Kibra has highest number of Covid-19 defaulters at 83,037.
Image: MERCY MUMO
Kibra is on the spotlight for leading with 87,037 Covid-19 vaccination defaulters.
This comes after Nairobi recorded 215,725 vaccination defaulters as of March 16, 2022, according to a report by the Nairobi Metropolitan Service directorate of health services.
While Kibra recorded the highest number, Embakasi Central recorded the lowest number of defaulters at 65.
The data reveals that Dagoretti North recorded 27,523 Covid-19 defaulters, Starehe -15,155, Westlands -9,968, Kasarani -9,648, Embakasi West -9,531, Embakasi East – 8,956 and Roysambu – 8,270.
Others are Langata with 7,508 defaulters, Ruaraka -7,121, Makadara – 5,755, Embakasi South -5,278 , Dagoretti South – 4,689, Embakasi North -4,115, Kamkunji – 2,714 and Mathare – 2,392.
According to NMS data, as of March 20, 2022, Nairobi county recorded 1, 434, 669 fully vaccinated residents. This accounts for 47 per cent against a target of 3,052,494.
According to the data, the defaulters are as a result of submitting the incorrect phone number. The next of kin is also untraceable.
"If we manage to successfully trace 70 per cent and update defaulters in the MoH [Ministry of Health] Chanjo system, we [will] have an additional 151,000 clients being fully vaccinated," the report said.
While urging residents to get vaccination, NMS said there were 86 public Covid-19 vaccination facilities within Nairobi offering different vaccines.
The vaccines offered are a variety from AstraZeneca, Moderna, Johnson and Johnson and Pfizer, among others.
Mama Lucy, Pumwani and Mbagathi hospitals are among the public health facilities in Nairobi which have been earmarked to offer Covid-19 vaccination.
Others are Kenyatta National Hospital, Mathari National Teaching and Referral Hospital and Defence Forces Memorial Hospital.
Some facilities include Moi Airbase Hospital, National Spinal Injury Hospital and Kenyatta University Teaching and Referral Hospital.
The private and faith-based health facilities selected for vaccination are St Francis Community Hospital, Jamaa Mission Hospital and Coptic Hospital.
Others are Nairobi Hospital, Ruaraka Uhai Neema Hospital, Mater Hospital and Aga Khan Hospital.
Also the newly 14 commissioned Level 2 and Level 3 hospitals within Nairobi's informal settlements are offering the Covid-19 vaccine.
Between February and October this year, President Uhuru Kenyatta commissioned 14 hospitals to people living in informal settlements access quality and affordable health services with ease.
There is an estimate population of 3.1 million in the informal settlements.
The 14 hospitals which include The Kibera Level 3, Undugu, Ng'undu Kamulu, Ngomongo and Zimmerman were commissioned in September.
Gichagi in Kangemi, Mukuru Kwa Rueben, Tassia Kwa Ndege and Our Lady of Nazareth in Mukuru Kwa Njenga were opened in July last year.
The Uthiru, Kiamaiko, Soweto-Kayole, Ushirika and Green Park hospitals were opened in February.
Meanwhile, Mohammed Badi-led team intends to vaccinate 70 per cent of Nairobi’s adult population by June 2022.
To achieve that, NMS Health department will increase the number of Covid-19 vaccination sites from current 155 to 459 actively reporting immunisation facilities.
They will also train health care workers and community health volunteers on Covid-19 vaccination across all the 17 subcounties and list vaccine defaulters weekly.
(edited by Amol Awuor)