Kabarak to get an Ultra-Modern Mission Referral Hospital

Health Cabinet Secretary Cleopa Mailu has today led a Ksh 45 billion ground breaking ceremony on behalf of President Uhuru Kenyatta at the Kabarak University Teaching and Referral Hospital.

CS Mailu, who was accompanied by Baringo Senator Gideon Moi and Rongai MP Raymond Moi, urged the striking nurses to call off their strike which has paralyzed health provision in all public hospitals.

Speaking during the ceremony, the Acting Vice Chancellor Kabarak University Dr Henry Kiplagat said: “As the first and the only mission referral hospital in the country, we will ensure that Kenyans have access to world-class care locally to reduce medical tourism outside the country”.

The proposed referral mission Hospital makes Kabarak University the first private university to develop a 500 bed Teaching, Research & Referral Mission Hospital in Kenya.

This is expected to provide advanced types of care and increase its capability to diagnose and treat the most complicated cases with the latest medical equipment, such as MRI and CT scanners and nuclear medicine (Cyclotron, PET, MRI PET CT).

The University has picked US Giant Conglomerate General Electric (GE) Healthcare to provide the technology for the development of the 500-bed, state-of-the-art tertiary hospital in Nakuru County.

On his part, Farid Fezoua, President and CEO GE Healthcare Africa said that the firm is committed to bringing modernized healthcare infrastructure to the country with a long-term maintenance to help strengthen primary and referral care.

GE Healthcare has also undertaken to assist Kabarak University develop its infrastructure, technology transfer, education and capacity to support a better healthcare system and patient outcomes.

The project is also expected to consist of a 250-bed Kabarak University Hospital in Nairobi and modernization of 23 Mission hospitals across the country under Christian Health Association of Kenya.

The medical campus project which will be set on a 100-acre parcel of land will be financed by US based Private Equity Sygec international among others and is set to start operations in 2020 and also see the establishment of a welfare programme backed by the university and philanthropists to help patients who cannot afford the charges to get treatment.

Additional information by Evans Asiba