This archive report was first published on 27 October 2019.
Kenya's healthcare sector is set to receive a major boost with the inauguration of the Kenyatta University Teaching and Referral Hospital, a 650-bed facility, scheduled for October 28th.
According to Health Cabinet Secretary Sicily Kariuki, the hospital will have 150 beds specifically for cancer and renal patients in its initial stage.
"I am satisfied that the facility will be fully operational in a week's time and that's why I came here personally to monitor and evaluate the progress," said Kariuki during a tour of the hospital on Friday.
The hospital, which will be 100 percent referral, will have 40 doctors and over 100 other medical staff on call, with the oncology department set to be 100 percent operational and the renal unit functioning at 50 percent capacity.
Speaking during the tour, Prof. Olive Mugenda, the hospital's board chair, regretted the delayed opening of the hospital, which was initially supposed to be operational in August this year.
"We regret the delay which was inevitable as we had to test the equipment and hire members of staff,” she said.
President Kenyatta is expected to officially preside over the inauguration ceremony.
