This archive report was first published on 23 August 2021.
On August 23, 2021, Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) announced that Mathare-Korogocho Level 5 Hospital, a Sh400 million refurbished hospital located in Mathare North, would finally open its doors to patients before the end of the month.
The commissioning of the hospital had been delayed for more than a month, but NMS Health Services Director Dr Ouma Oluga explained that the delay was due to the thorough testing of equipment to ensure that everything was in working condition.
"There have been a few delays as we have been carrying out tests including pressure test, water testing, electricity connection, and generator testing which had to take two weeks to complete. These are not things that you do in a rush. You don't want to open the hospital and get some things are not working," said Dr Oluga.
The 350-bed hospital will offer a range of services, including in-patient wards, 24-hour pharmacy, kidney dialysis centre, intensive care unit, burns unit, and theatres. It will also offer renal dialysis, radiology services, tuberculosis management, mortuary and autopsy services, pathology, chemotherapy, and forensic services.
Construction of the facility started in the early 1990s but was grounded. However, NMS was tasked with reviving its completion last year. The hospital is expected to reduce the patient load at Mama Lucy Hospital, which serves more than 2.1 million Eastlands residents.
The hospital will dedicate an entire floor to attend to boda boda riders injured while going about their business.
