KNH NEWSLINE ED 10 2022

Newsline

13/05/2022

We Listen, We Care

Issue 10

Special Edition

13/5/2022

PHOTO | MOSES NJOMO

1931 - 2022

The KNH launch of firsts President Kenyatta inaugurates 3 key health facilities built and equipped at a cost of Sh1 billion at KNH

ISSUE 10 | Kenyatta National Hospital Newsline

1

13/05/2022

The KNH launch of firsts

PHOTO | NICHOLAS WAMALWA

President Uhuru Kenyatta and Mrs. Zarina Merali unveil the Zarina Naushad Merali Daycare Centre plaque during the launch of the Centre.

By Verah Mugambi

K

enyatta National Hospital has yet again added three (3) key health facilities; Zarina Merali Daycare Centre, the Centre for Kidney Diseases and Organ Transplantation and the Histocompatibility & Immunogenetics Laboratory (HLA Lab). His Excellency, President Uhuru Kenyatta commissioned the projects on Wednesday May 11, 2022 in an event filled with pomp and color at the Hospital. There had been anxious anticipation of His Excellency, President Uhuru Kenyatta’s visit.

As one walked towards the Administration parking lot area where the presidential event was to be held, palpable excitement and anxiety could easily be felt as the preparation for the launch of the various projects was ongoing.

One could feel the vibrance and glamour in the atmosphere.

Those in attendance included

Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe, Kenyatta National Hospital Board Chair Mr. George Ooko, Chief Executive Officer Dr. Evanson Kamuri, and Board Members amongst others.

President Kenyatta arrived at Kenyatta National Hospital around 1.30 pm. He signed the visitor’s book and toured the KNH Zarina Merali Daycare Centre where he cut a ribbon and unveiled a plaque to launch the Centre.

The Zarina Merali construction project was funded jointly by the Government of Kenya in partnership with the Zarina Merali Foundation for a total of 204 million shillings.

His Excellency President Kenyatta was then taken on a guided tour of the Centre and was very impressed by the state-of-the-art equipment.

The President congratulated Mrs. Zarina and the entire Sameer Group for the effort to improve health care services to Kenyans. He expressed his delight in the work put in by KNH staff to provide world-class

ISSUE 10 | Kenyatta National Hospital Newsline

The Zarina Merali construction project was funded jointly by the Government of Kenya in partnership with the Zarina Merali Foundation for a total of 204 million shillings.

health care services.

The Zarina Merali Daycare Centre will facilitate outpatient or same-day surgeries for patients. The Centre has four (4) theatres, an endoscopy unit, an electrophysiology room, and associated support facilities.

After launching the Daycare, the President headed to a second launch which was the kidney diseases & Organ Transplantation centre. He walked through the corridors chatting with the management while enjoying the therapeutic artwork displayed on the walls along the walkway.

The Centre for Kidney Disease and Organ Transplant is a specialized facility for kidney and liver transplants and the management of complicated kidney diseases.

At the Kidney Disease & Organ Transplantation Centre, the President walked around the theatres and conversed with the Renal patients giving them

2

13/05/2022

hope that all will be well. He later launched the facility and headed to the Administration Block parking lot where he and a few guests gave their speeches to KNH staff and members of the fourth estate who were patiently waiting.

During the launch, Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe thanked the Merali family for their generosity and urged other Kenyans who can help to do so and make the Universal Health Coverage agenda for all achievable.

He also commended the President for his support of the Health Care sector. “Kenyatta National Hospital is not how it used to be. It has improved a lot; the facilities, the workers

“Kenyatta National Hospital is not how it used to be. It has improved a lot; the facilities, the workers and everything at the hospital is just state-ofthe-art. I want to appreciate the healthcare workers for supporting the vision and mission for Universal Health Coverage”. -CS. Mutahi Kagwe

and everything at the hospital is just state-of-the-art. I want to appreciate the healthcare workers for supporting the vision and mission for Universal Health Coverage”, he added.

President Kenyatta commended KNH for the work they do during his speech. “it’s not only a question of our equipment but the capability

and capacity of our healthcare workers. Hongera!”, the President exclaimed with a fulfilled heart.

“I was happy to hear that the number of walk-in patients has reduced due to the introduction of Satellite Nairobi Metropolitan Services hospitals within the region,” concluded the President.

PHOTO | COURTESY

H.E President Uhuru Kenyatta greets a patient at Renal Unit ward

PHOTO | COURTESY

H.E President Uhuru Kenyatta on his way to launch the Kidney Diseases and Organ Transplantation Centre accompanied by CS Health Sen. Mutahi Kagwe, KNH Board Chair - Mr. George Ooko and KNH CEO Dr. Evanson Kamuri , EBS

ISSUE 10 | Kenyatta National Hospital Newsline

3

13/05/2022

The KNH state-of-the-art projects

By Kennedy Mbogo & Dave Opiyo Zarina Merali Daycare Centre The Zarina Merali Daycare Centre is the state-of-the art facility that will facilitate outpatient surgeries or same-day surgeries for KNH patients. These are surgeries that do not require hospitalization before and after an operation, meaning patients who undergo some surgical procedures will be allowed to recuperate at home after an operation.

The Sh204 million project construction was funded jointly by the Government of Kenya and the Zarina Merali Foundation.

Equipping of the state-ofthe-art facility was done by the Government and the Sports Arts & Social Development Fund at a cost of Sh155 million and Sh127 million respectively.

The centre has four (4) theatres, an endoscopy unit, an electrophysiology room, and associated support facilities. It is equipped to offer a wide range of ambulatory surgeries such as cosmetic, dental, gynaecology, endoscopy to name just a few.

This, it is expected, will greatly minimize hospital-acquired infections and reduce congestion in the wards for better management of admitted patients.

There are better clinical outcomes when a patient is being nursed at home close to his/ her family members than when one is confined in the hospital. Patients who have undergone surgery through this arrangement are indeed a happy lot.

The popularity the Daycare Centre has, of late, been on the increase due to the rising demand for outpatient surgery and improved technologies.

Statistics indicate that 80 percent of the long waiting time by patients is caused by a lack of theatre allocation arising from a high number of surgical cases.

The outpatient surgery is intended to offload part of the cost of surgery from the patients, allow more patients to access specialized care while decongesting the

hospital, and reduce patients waiting time in the theatre.

Centre for Kidney Diseases & Organ Transplantation (CKDOT) The KNH Centre for Kidney Disease and Organ Transplantation is a specialized facility for kidney and liver transplants and the management of complicated kidney diseases, liver, including other organs’ transplants, and provides training and research opportunities. It is supported by a state-of-the-art HLA Lab for donor and recipient matching.

The facility was funded by the Government of Kenya at a cost of Sh 200 million and has two transplant theatres, a postrecovery room, and two wards, each containing six (6) beds for both

PHOTO | NICHOLAS WAMALWA

The newly launched Zarina Merali day care centre building

ISSUE 10 | Kenyatta National Hospital Newsline

genders and cloakrooms.

Non-communicable diseases account for approximately 27% of all deaths in Kenya, equivalent to almost 100,000 people per year (WHO, 2016). Over 50% of all hospital admissions are as a result of NCDs. Twelve (12) years ago KNH started a program dubbed ‘Interlife’ to revamp Kidney Transplantation Services in the country.

This was occasioned by a rise in the number of Kenyans developing chronic kidney disease, with a significant number of these individuals requiring dialysis and eventually transplantations.

Unfortunately, only 10 percent of these patients with end-stage kidney failure, were able to access specialized health care.

This, as a result, led to increased demand for the services and so far, Kenyatta National Hospital has performed more than 200 Kidney Transplants.

With the number of patients seeking transplants rising every year, there was a significant capacity gap in terms of space in the hospital, thereby necessitating expansion of the existing renal facility.

In 2017, the Government of Kenya commenced the construction of a new renal unit that would serve as a regional centre of excellence in the management of kidney diseases.

Patient care has greatly improved as they are now being served in a decent environment

PHOTO | COURTESY

CEO KNH Dr. Evanson Kamuri, EBS takes President Uhuru Kenyatta on a tour of the Histocompatibility & Immunogenetics Laboratory (HLA Lab).

4

13/05/2022

with comfortable facilities and appropriate isolation for posttransplant patients.

Previously the patients were being nursed in normal wards which placed them at an increased risk of infections, which could interfere with preferred clinical outcomes.

In this unit now, any Kidney transplant patient whether surgery was done locally or outside the country can receive post-transplant care and clinical reviews from our specialists.

Histocompatibility & Immunogenetics Laboratory (HLA Lab) The KNH Histocompatibility & Immunogenetics Laboratory (HLA Lab) is a state-of-the-art laboratory for histocompatibility and genetic testing for solid organ and bone marrow transplantation. The lab is the first of its kind in East Africa and will greatly support organ and tissue transplants by testing donor

and recipient matching locally.

It has been described as the ‘new kid on the block’. The establishment of this laboratory has been well received by our clients who no longer depend on foreign laboratories for HLA tissue typing services.

The laboratory opened its door to patients on December 14, 2021.

Among the readily available tests include HLA-A, B, C, DR, DQ, DP, Class I& II Antibody, Class I ID Antibody Detection, Class II IDv2 Antibody Detection, Donor Specific Antibody Detection, Single Antigen Class I Detection, Single Antigen Class II Detection, Single Antigen MIC Antibody Detection, and Complement Dependent Cytotoxicity.

We aim to play among the best as we continue to offer efficient and effective histocompatibility and Immunogenetics services.

Of utmost importance is the intended plan to enroll the laboratory in the American

Society of Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics (ASHI) accreditation program to maintain high standards of operation.

In the spirit of Universal Health Coverage (UHC); a critical pillar of the government’s Big 4 Agenda to ensure accessibility of health care from the primary to the tertiary levels, these facilities demonstrate the government’s commitment to this agenda.

PHOTO | NICHOLAS WAMALWA

The newly launched Centre for Kidney Diseases and Organ Transplantation building

KNH Board Chairman’s address

By Winfred Gumbo As the overall representative of Kenyatta National Hospital, the Board Chairman; Mr. George Ooko took a moment to thank the President for taking his time to visit KNH. “I would like to thank you Mr. President for being here with us today. It is a pleasure and we hope to see you again after 90 days when the East Africa Kidney Institute (EAKI) will be launched,” said Mr. Ooko.

Mr. Ooko said the three facilities will help in treatment of patients and improve in service delivery. This is because EAKI will help kidney patients and will work hand in hand with KNH for better patient outcome.

He further thanked the donor; Mrs Zarina Merali who contributed to the construction of the Zarina Naushad Merali Daycare Centre through Zarina Foundation.

Before inviting the Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Health, Hon. Mutahi Kagwe to welcome the President, Mr. Ooko took time to introduce the present Board Members to the congregation.

PHOTO | NICHOLAS WAMALWA KNH Board Chairman Mr. George Ooko giving his appreciation speech

ISSUE 10 | Kenyatta National Hospital Newsline

5

13/05/2022

The President’s keynote address

By Winfred Gumbo After President’s muchanticipated visit and launching of the Zarina Merali Daycare Centre, Centre for Kidney Diseases & Organ Transplantation (CKDOT) and Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics Laboratory (HLA Lab) he took time to address the KNH members of staff and members of the media or 4th estate who were patiently seated and waiting at the Administration Block parking lot.

“It is my pleasure to work together with you to bring healing to where there was once suffering of the renal patients,” said President Uhuru Kenyatta.

“I’m delighted and honored to join you today in launching very important and strategic facilities in the development of healthcare provision at Kenyatta National Hospital and indeed the country. They include the Zarina Merali Daycare Centre as well as the Centre for Kidney Diseases & Organ Transplantation and Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics Laboratory (HLA Lab),” continued the President.

Upon finishing his keynote address, the president thanked the members of staff for their work reiterating that

healthcare workers,” added the president.

“Additionally, by the introduction of satellite Nairobi Metropolitan Service (NMS) Hospitals within the estates, KNH has been decongested since the number of walk in patients has reduced from 500 to around 100 patients per day. This will enable KNH be the premier national hospital,” concluded the president.

He thanked the staff for being focused in doing their work to help deliver service to the country so as to fulfill Universal Health Coverage mandate as one of the Big 4 agendas.

PHOTO | NICHOLAS WAMALWA H.E Hon. Uhuru Kenyatta giving his speech during the launch.

the facility alone cannot help patients if there are no better outcomes.

“What has made me the happiest is that during our walk, Dr. Evanson Kamuri told me there has been 100% success rate for all the surgeries. This means that it is not only a question of equipment, but the competence or capability and capacity of our

ISSUE 10 | Kenyatta National Hospital Newsline

PHOTO | NICHOLAS WAMALWA From the left; Dir Corporation Secretary / Dir. for Legal Services- Calvin Nyachoti, CS Health Sen. Mutahi Kagwe, H.E Hon. Uhuru Kenyatta and CEO KNH Dr. Evanson Kamuri, EBS standing for the National Anthem

“What has made me the happiest is that during our walk, Dr. Evanson Kamuri told me there has been 100% success rate for all the surgeries. This means that it is not only a question of equipment, but the competence or capability and capacity of our healthcare workers,” ..

His Excellency, Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta

6

13/05/2022

Kenya on the right track in the provision of health care in the country – CS Mutahi Kagwe

By Shiphrah Njeri Health CS Sen. Mutahi Kagwe has praised the strides the health sector has made under the leadership of President Uhuru Kenyatta.

The CS noted the country had over the years witnessed remarkable progress in reducing the burden of disease under President Kenyatta’s leadership.

“It is through President Uhuru’s administration that we have witnessed a lot of firsts in terms of provision of healthcare in the country.

Some of these include state-of-theart Centres of Excellence up across the counties,” said the CS at Kenyatta National Hospital.

He made the remarks when he accompanied President Kenyatta during the launch of the Zarina Merali Daycare Centre, the Histocompatibility & Immunogenetics Laboratory as well as the Centre for Kidney Diseases & Organ Transplantation at the Hospital.

The Zarina Merali Daycare Centre will facilitate outpatient surgeries or same-day surgeries for patients. These are surgeries that do not require hospitalization before and after an operation,

meaning patients who undergo some surgical procedures will be allowed to recuperate at home after an operation.

The Centre for Kidney Disease and Organ Transplant, on the other hand, is a specialized facility for kidney and liver transplants and the management of complicated kidney diseases.

The Histocompatibility & Immunogenetics Laboratory is a state-of-the-art laboratory for histocompatibility and genetic testing for solid organ and bone marrow transplantation.

The lab is the first of its kind in East Africa and will greatly support organ and tissue transplants by testing the donor and recipient matching locally.

“KNH has become one of the cleanest hospitals and a place where patients receive specialized quality health care services.” .. CS. Mutahi Kagwe

ISSUE 10 | Kenyatta National Hospital Newsline

The CS hailed the work done by philanthropists in supporting the putting up of infrastructure critical to the provision of healthcare in the country, singling out the late Naushad Merali family that donated Sh100 million towards the construction of the Daycare Centre.

He called on other philanthropists to follow this example.

“This milestone is our work as well as the philanthropists such as the Merali family who have been of great support. We hope other people too can come forward to create such facilities to serve Kenyans,” he added.

CS. Kagwe also recalled how KNH used to be criticized in the past and the Hospital is today not the same but greatly improved.

“KNH has become one of the cleanest hospitals and a place where patients receive specialized quality health care services. It has transitioned, and as health care workers, we are proud to be associated with it. We pledge to continue with the legacy,” he concluded as he thanked the health care workers for supporting the Big 4 Agenda of Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

PHOTO | NICHOLAS WAMALWA CS, Sen. Mutahi Kagwe giving his speech during the launch

7

13/05/2022

Mrs. Zarina Naushad Merali’s remarks

By Verah Mugambi Mrs. Zarina Naushad Merali was present on 11th May 2022 to witness the opening of the Daycare Centre.

During the launch, Mrs. Zarina reminisced about how the idea of funding a ward was conceived.

It was during January 2009, when the country witnessed two major fire disasters: The fuel tanker that exploded at Sachangwan in the Salgaa area along Nakuru Eldoret Highway and another fire at Nakumatt Downtown Supermarket on Kenyatta avenue that resulted in fatalities and caused several critical injuries to survivors.

The injured in these two incidences were rushed to different hospitals, key among them, Kenyatta National Hospital for specialized treatment due to the magnitude of their burns.

“My late husband – Dr. Naushad Merali (May God rest his soul in eternal peace) had been appointed

by His Excellency the President the

late Honourable Mwai Kibaki to be the Chairman of Nakumatt-Molo Fire Victims Board at that time. My late husband and I visited Kenyatta National Hospital to wish the injured persons well and we were touched by what we saw in the Wards.

“In as much as our Medics at KNH were attending to the victims in a very professional way, there lacked enough beds for them and the majority were sharing the beds”, Mrs Zarina narrated.

“We thought we could do something, however small, to help

“Today I am elated that none other than our President, His Excellency Uhuru Kenyatta accepted to launch this facility.

We, as a family, consider it a great honour and we don’t take this for granted. .” .. Mrs. Zarina

ISSUE 10 | Kenyatta National Hospital Newsline

alleviate some of the problems we witnessed as we went around the wards to see the patients. This is where the idea of donating funds to build this Daycare centre was conceived,” she continued.

“Today I am elated that none other than our President, His Excellency Uhuru Kenyatta accepted to launch this facility. We, as a family, consider it a great honour and we don’t take this for granted. From our tour of the facility, we have noted that the Daycare Centre is well equipped with state-of-the-art theatres to offer a wide range of ambulatory surgeries with well-trained and dedicated personnel. Thank you KNH,” concluded Mrs. Zarina.

The Zarina Naushad Merali Daycare Centre will facilitate outpatient or same-day surgeries for patients visiting the hospital. These are surgeries that do not require hospitalization before and after an operation.

PHOTO | COURTESY Mrs. Zarina Naushad Merali and President Uhuru Kenyatta as they walk towards Zarina Naushad Merali Daycare Centre.

8

13/05/2022

Marketing & Communication Department Design Concept Team: Dave Opiyo, Edel Q. Mwende, Yvonne Gichuru & Collins Cheruiyot Editorial Team: Dave Opiyo , Edel Q. Mwende, Verah Mugambi, Sheila Murithi, Yvonne Gichuru, Winfred Gumbo, Linnette Leyi, Priscah Angwenyi & Shiphrah Njeri Stories: Verah Mugambi, Dave Opiyo, Kennedy Mbogo , Winfred Gumbo & Shiphrah Njeri Design By: Collins Cheruiyot Photos: Presidential Strategic Communication Unit, Moses Njomo & Nicholas Wamalwa Tel: +254 20 2726300-9 Ext. 43121 or 43969 Fax: +254 20 272572 Email: caffairs@knh.or.ke knh.caffairs@gmail.com

Find us on Social Media Kenyatta National Hospital

@CeoKnh @KNH_hospital

Kenyatta National Hospital Official Page

www.knh.or.ke

To contribute or report on newsworthy items, please contact the Editorial team.

ISSUE 10 | Kenyatta National Hospital Newsline

9