Over 100 patients are set for surgeries in Nairobi County Hospitals in a free medical camp courtesy of the Nairobi City County Government and an American based NGO.
Patients who are suffering from chronic diseases are getting the free medical services at Pumwani Maternity Hospital, Mbagathi and Mama Lucy Hospital respectively for at least two weeks until May 10, 2019.
The medical camp started on April 28.
The campaign aimed at helping patients who are facing financial challenges is spearheaded by Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko’s administration and I HOPE International, an American based Non-Governmental Organisation which has dispatched 10 specialist doctors to Nairobi for the free medical camp.
Governor Sonko has said the initiative is aimed at benefiting the under privileged members of the society who are suffering from different ailments.
“We are doing this for the benefit of those who are not able to access urgent medical services due to their financial challenges. My administration is determined to ensure we fully implement President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Big Four agenda which also included provision of universal health coverage to all residents of Nairobi City,” said Sonko.
Mama Lucy Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr. Musa Mohamed has said so far at least 90 patients are lined up for major operations at the facility from Wednesday.
“We are set for major surgeries starting on Thursday(today) .Patients who are suffering from different ailments will be operated on by our doctors together with the US medics who are here for the next two weeks. We will also open a third theatre in our facility as we shall also launch our very best laparoscopy,” added Dr. Musa.
At the Mbagathi District Hospital, at least 15 other patients are also set for surgeries. “We have treated and discharged hundreds of patients at our hospital and starting tomorrow we will be conducting major operations on at least 15 patients,” stated Mbagathi Medical Superintendent Joseph Karani.
The same situation has been witnessed at the Pumwani Maternity Hospital where the hospital’s Medical Superintendent Dr, Leonard Okoko said that influx of patients has increased due to improved medical services being offered at the health facility.
John Otieno from Kibra who is one of the patients set to benefit from the free medical camp at Mbagathi Hospital, has hailed the initiative by the Sonko administration and I HOPE International, saying the medical camp will enable him undergo an operation to remove a tumour from his head.
Wanjiru Juma a resident of Umoja two, is also a beneficiary of the medical camp with her 70-year-old grandmother, Asha Juma set to undergo an operation to replace her knee.
“I am happy my grandmother who is my guardian is now set to benefit from the free medical camp. She’s now at home but we are expecting to report at Mama Lucy Hospital on Wednesday where she will undergo a knee operation,” she said.
County Chief Health officer Washington Makodingo has expressed optimism that the free medical camp by County doctors and the US medics will help save lives in the capital.
“I have so far supervised 12 caesarean cases at Pumwani Maternity Hospital and the numbers are expected to improve. We are doing our best to improve healthcare services at our county health centers to ensure we achieve universal health coverage,” Makodingo said.