Pumwani Hospital to receive more medical staff, cold rooms

Pumwani Maternity Hospital is set to receive more medical personnel, a functional cold room and a 24-hour transport system to ensure better quality delivery of services.

This is after a recommendation made by a joint inquiry formed by the Ministry of Health headed by Prof. Alice Mutungi, Vice Chairperson of Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Board and a specialist in Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Health, the joint inquiry committee was composed of members drawn from the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Board, Nursing Council of Kenya, Clinical Officers Council, the Public Health Officers Council and the Pharmacy and Poisons Board.

The committee reportedly visited the institution, interviewed hospital management, and perused through patient notes among other documents before making three recommendations.

“Pumwani Maternity Hospital management to establish a functional cold room within 14 days and to ensure availability of a functional transport and ambulance system to provide 24-hour service,” reads the statement.

“The Nairobi County Government to rationalize and deploy health workers at Pumwani Maternity Hospital to ensure Pumwani is adequately staffed to deliver quality health services.”

The statement further added: “The Nairobi County Government to equip and operationalise hospitals and health centres to provide maternal and newborn health services to decongest Pumwani Maternity hospital.”

The committee also observed that the hospital has a number of challenges ranging from weak health system, inadequate infrastructure and equipment as well as shortage of health workforce including nurses/midwives, medical doctors and clinical officers.

“The Medical Practitioners and Dentists Board, Nursing Council of Kenya, Clinical Officers Council, the Public Health Officers Council and Pharmacy and Poisons Board is required to expeditiously complete the ongoing inquiry and actions taken on any professional malpractice/misconduct that arises from the inquiry by the respective regulatory bodies in line with the existing legal provisions, policies and guidelines and submit their report to my office within 21 days,” reads the statement.

The drama at Pumwani hospital began on Monday after Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko made an impromptu tour of the institution and discovered 12 infant bodies in paper bags.

He suspended top county health officials over the saga and installed temporary replacements in acting capacity.