Mama Lucy ICU: Sakaja Lists Key Achievements In Health Sector After One Year In Office

• Governor Johnson Sakaja said his administration has brought a lot of changes in the healthcare sector one year after he took office
• According to data from City Hall, the county has established a functioning Intensive Care Unit at Mama Lucy Hospital
• Chief Officer for Health Facilities Geoffrey Mosiria said the county plans to expand the ICU at Mama Lucy from a four-bed to a 28-bed capacity

Nairobi - Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has marked one year in office, taking over the country's richest county following the hotly contested 2022 elections.

Sakaja won the city's gubernatorial race after defeating Polycarp Igathe of the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party.

During the campaigns, the youthful governor rode on the platform of 'making Nairobi work' in all sectors.

As he marks a year in office, the United Democratic Alliance governor listed his achievements, particularly in the healthcare sector.

4-bed ICU at Mama Lucy Hospital

Sakaja's administration established the first ICU facility at Mama Lucy Hospital with a four-bed capacity.

There is ongoing procurement for the renovations of remaining rooms to expand the capacity of the ICU at the facility.

Speaking exclusively to TUKO.co.ke, Nairobi's Chief Officer for Health Facilities Geoffrey Mosiria disclosed that the county plans to increase the ICU-bed capacity to 28.

Mosiria stated that Sakaja's administration also has plans to set up ICU facilities at Mbagathi Hospital and Pumwani Hospital.

"The governor has plans to scale up the ICU at Mama Lucy. Once we finish the stalled building currently under construction, we shall increase ICU bed capacity from the current 4 to 28-bed capacity. We also have plans to have a six-bed ICU at Mbagathi," Mosiria said.

Sakaja: Steady supply of drugs

Shortage of drugs in health facilities has normally been a significant challenge for many counties, especially considering that some devolved units owe the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (KEMSA) a lot of money.

However, the city governor said his administration agreed with KEMSA to facilitate the supply of medicines to hospitals.

Since taking power, Sakaja has paid out KSh 80 million in pending bills and procured KSh 244 million in medical supplies for all 118 county health facilities.

"We have already procured a lot of medicines for the level two, three, four and five hospitals. Suppliers have already started delivering the commodities and upon inspection, we shall start distributing them to the 118 facilities," Mosiria added.

Neonatal ICU at Mbagathi

Data from City Hall further indicates that the county has renovated Mbagathi Hospital's maternity theatre.

At the Mbagathi Hospital, Sakaja's administration launched a modern newborn unit that will house a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

The unit provides a sigh of relief to residents who have been depending majorly on Mama Lucy Hospital.

"This is the first Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) the county hospital is launching. It is a sigh of relief to the residents in improving health services," Mosiria said during the launch.

Nairobi Funeral Home

Earlier, Sakaja's administration renamed Nairobi City Mortuary to Nairobi Funeral Home.

The county installed new coolers at the Nairobi Funeral Home to compete with the private sector.

The Chief Officer for Health Facilities also disclosed that the county had set aside KSh 50 million to expand the mortuary at Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital to increase body capacity.

Why Sakaja wants to automate service

Regarding the plans for the healthcare sector in the county, Sakaja's administration plans to automate services in all health facilities across the county.

Mosiria said the move will help in the management of health records and will make monitoring and evaluations more convenient.

"The plan is to scale up the automation of services in all health facilities so that records of health services are digitised. The governor will be able to monitor what is going on in all the facilities without necessarily doing physical inspections," the chief officer added.