Coronavirus: Nairobi Hospital bans flowers, cards, gifts for patients

The Nairobi Hospital has now banned delivery of external items until further notice as part of a new preparedness plan geared towards decongesting the facility to combat the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

Nairobi Hospital CEO Dr. Allan Pamba, in a statement released on Wednesday, said the facility will no longer be accepting external food, drinks and items such as flowers, cards or gifts.

Further, visiting hours have since been shifted to between 4pm and 6pm only, and only one visitor is allowed per patient in all wards including Accident and Emergency Department, Intensive Care Unit as well as the High Dependency Unit.

Dr. Pamba also stated that children below 12 years of age are henceforth not allowed in the hospital or any of its satellite clinics unless they are patients.

“Our Anderson Specialty Clinics will no longer be accepting walk-ins but rather will see patients strictly on an appointment basis,” he stated.

“The only exceptions shall be our Obstetric, Vaccination, Family Health/Diabetes and Well-Baby clinics.”

Nairobi Hospital’s satellite facilities will continue to be open but will however only offer Accident and Emergency services, henceforth suspending specialty clinic services.

Clients in need of filling their prescriptions are now encouraged to do so via mail or WhatsApp and delivery will be done to their doorsteps at a cost of Ksh.400.

“These measures will decongest our facilities and help to further reduce transmission risks to both staff and the public – any inconveniences caused is regretted,” read the statement.

“We urge calm even as we step up vigilance at The Nairobi Hospital in tandem with the Government of Kenya response strategy.”