Cabinet Secretary for Health Commissions New MTRH Facilities
Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Health, Sen. Mutahi Kagwe, EGH, commissioned several strategic projects at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in late August including the Chandaria Cancer and Chronic Diseases Centre (CCCDC), MTRH radiotherapy equipment and the MTRH Nawiri Recovery and Skills Centre which were supported by AMPATH donors.
Cabinet Secretary for Health, Sen. Mutahi Kagwe, EGH (right), commissions the MTRH Nawiri Recovery and Skills Centre at MTRH.
In his comments after commissioning the projects, the CS praised the Hospital’s Board and Management for prudent deployment of resources. He praised the Chairman and CEO for their able stewardship of the institution. CS Kagwe urged other public healthcare providers in the country to emulate MTRH management for its transparency and sound leadership. He was pleased to note that MTRH has remained top in performance management, sustaining and cascading the system to all departments and to all staff.
The Cabinet Secretary lauded the partnerships that have thrust MTRH to the International stage in healthcare service delivery. He thanked MTRH partners including the AMPATH Consortium of North American universities led by Indiana University (IU).
The Chandaria Cancer and Chronic Diseases Centre
The Chandaria Cancer and Chronic Diseases Centre (CCCDC) is a hub for training, research, and chronic disease care and is the largest public facility of its kind in sub-Saharan Africa. Cancer in children and adults is one of the leading causes of premature death in Kenya. For the past 15 years, AMPATH, MTRH and Moi University School of Medicine have been building the Human Resources for Health (HRH) and the infrastructure to fight this deadly disease.
The expansion of infrastructure for cancer care and the partnership with IU and the University of Toronto has allowed for the establishment of new Moi University post-graduate fellowship programs in gynecological oncology, medical oncology and pediatric oncology as well as expanded surgical oncology services.
In addition to oncology care, the CCCDC allows for an integrated approach to care for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart disease, hypertension and diabetes. This program starts in communities focusing on prevention and strengthens primary care in MOH facilities to control NCDs before becoming severe. This centre allows for affordable, high quality specialty-level care for those patients experiencing complications from their chronic diseases. Through the AMPATH partnership and specifically Duke University, a cardiology fellowship has also been established.
More than $7 million USD in philanthropic funding was donated for the CCCDC. Significant philanthropic funding for the CCCDC was provided by the Chandaria Foundation, the Ruth Lilly Philanthropic Foundation, Pfizer and The Pfizer Foundation, Eli Lilly and Company Foundation, the Department of Radiation Oncology at Indiana University School of Medicine and the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center.
MTRH Radiotherapy Equipment
MTRH radiotherapy equipment includes a linear accelerator (LINAC), brachytherapy and treatment planning system. The hospital began using the linear accelerator (LINAC) machine in February 2021 and brachytherapy treatment commenced in May 2021. So far, 117 patients have received treatment by linear accelerator and seven patients, one of whom came from Uganda, have received brachytherapy treatment. The Ministry of Health supported MTRH to acquire the radiotherapy equipment which was procured by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) through United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Dr. Edith Kwobah (left), Dr. Dan Guiles, Sen. Kagwe, Dr. Caitrin Kelly and MTRH CEO Dr. Wilson K. Aruasa, MBS, EBS, open the new facility.
The Ministry of Energy, particularly the Nuclear Power and Energy Agency (NuPEA), which is the National Liaisons Office for the International Atomic Energy Agency in Kenya, was heavily involved in procurement of the radiotherapy equipment. Other stakeholders who supported the acquisition process include: National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF), Varian (LINAC & Treatment Planning System), ELEKTA (brachytherapy), Siemens (CT Simulator), Canberra Packard Digital Simulator UJP PRAHA Companies Symmetry equipment.
MTRH Nawiri Recovery and Skills Centre
The MTRH Nawiri Recovery and Skills Centre, which has a capacity for 16 clients, was built with funding from the Astellas Global Health Foundation in partnership with MTRH and Indiana University through the AMPATH partnership. In 2019, the Foundation granted AMPATH $1.35 million USD over three years to improve access to mental health services within primary care and community settings and to provide a transitional recovery home and skills centre in western Kenya. Nawiri means “glowing” or “to glow” in Swahili and represents the brighter future that is possible with treatment and support for people with mental health challenges.
Dr.. Caitrin Kelly represents the AMPATH Consortium in addressing the assembled guests.
While commissioning MTRH Nawiri Recovery and Skills Centre, Sen. Kagwe was impressed noting that the centre is the first such ‘transitional home’ for discharged patients with mental illness. He urged the community to treat mental health as any other disease and added that patients need support to recover well and be reintegrated in the society.
The centre is integral to MTRH’s continued efforts towards enhanced quality of life and self-sufficiency for people with mental health conditions by enabling them to live as respected and valued members of the community through psychosocial rehabilitation. The centre complements MTRH’s mental health and alcohol and drug dependency units.
Other Facilities
Other facilities commissioned during the CS visit were the MTRH Pressure Swing Adsorption Oxygen Generating Plant producing 2000 liters per minute of oxygen, Data Centre, ICT Network Upgrade and High Definition CCTV. The oxygen plant is the biggest hospital-based oxygen generating plant within the east and central African region. MTRH Chief Executive Officer Dr. Wilson K. Aruasa, MBS, EBS, pointed out that the hospital is now supplying oxygen to every patient bed, including the Shoe4Africa Children’s Hospital, through the piping system which ensures great efficiency.
He added that the hospital has sixty-two ICU beds.
The CS was accompanied by; Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Hon. Charles Keter, EGH; Uasin Gishu Governor H.E. Hon.Jackson K. Mandago, EGH; Chairperson of National Assembly Departmental Committee on Health (NADCH), Hon. Sabina Chege; Vice Chair, NADCH, Hon. Joshua Kutuny; Board Chair MTRH, Mr. Sitoyo Lopokoiyit; CEO NHIF, Dr. Peter Kamunyo; CEO NuPEA, Eng. Collins Juma, MBS; CEO NSSF, Dr. Anthony Omerikwa, MBS, among other dignitaries and MTRH staff and management.
Congratulations to MTRH on these new facilities and thank you to all of the AMPATH partners for supporting our mission.