Sakaja launches first neonatal unit, boasts of health milestones

Mbagathi Hospital on Monday marked a new dawn after it opened its doors to the first Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)

Commissioning the unit which has a capacity of 76 baby care spaces, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja said it was a milestone noting that there was congestion.

"After troubles with congestion and location, and following extensive renovation, we now have a neonatal ICU, complete with oxygen points," he said.

"Pure joy for mothers and babies as we officially commissioned our fully completed and equipped NeoNatal ICU at Mbagathi Hospital today. This is the first public NICU in Nairobi as we work on establishing other such facilities across the city," Sakaja added.

The Unit also comprises of two NICU beds, four NHDU beds, 20 incubators, 35 cots and 15 Kangaroo mother-care beds.

The Governor noted that the journey toward better health care and services in Nairobi has just begun.

Marking major achievements,  Sakaja noted that due to better equipment and proper management, Mbagathi treats  180-200 babies monthly.

"Many of the babies are referred here from other facilities for specialist care. This hospital is saving lives that would otherwise have been lost, to put it bluntly," he said.

The county chief noted that in November, the county flagged off medical equipment worth Sh58 million to the public hospitals, including Mbagathi.

At the moment, the Governor said that Nairobi is in the process of upgrading the county's level four hospitals by equipping them.

To that effect, a new theatre is almost complete in Kianda 42, a level 4 hospital in Kibra, as it awaits for the installation of a generator to be operationalized.

While Level 4 Mutuini Hospital, in Dagoretti South, will get its first theatre operationalized soon.

In addition, Governor Sakaja called on city residents to have patience and support his administration in the transformation steps it is making.

"Let me assure the people of Nairobi that we are working every day to ensure you have the best service you deserve. And now our efforts are driven by the knowledge that the health of the people determines the wealth of a county," he added.