The newly commissioned Kenyatta University Teaching and Referral Hospital (KUTRH) has announced it is in the process of acquiring 30 new ICU beds. – By Gerald Gekara.
While addressing the media, Hospital Board Chair Prof Olive Mugenda says the existing 32 ICU beds have already been occupied due to an upsurge in COVID-19 patients.
“In the next three days, we will have 30 new ICU beds to help the many Covid-19 patients who have been visiting the facility. We don’t want needy cases to be sent away due to lack of admissions. As of now, all the 32 ICU beds that the hospital has are full and we are not admitting anyone in the ICU,” she said.
On plans to take over Gatundu Level Five hospital, Prof. Mugenda said plans were underway to upgrade its infrastructure, and medical personnel.
“Gatundu Level 5 will be an annex of KUTRH. We shall strive to improve its infrastructure to meet the required standards. Already, we have deployed 11 nurses and seven doctors at the facility. We shall also collaborate in capacity building of the staff as well as in areas of research,” said Prof. Mugenda.
The narrative has been felt in different health centers especially around Nairobi county, with hospitals turning away critically ill patients over lack of beds.
The third wave of COVID-19 infections has resulted in an upsurge in hospitalizations and deaths.
1,013 patients are currently admitted in various facilities, while 3,003 are on home based isolation and care.
120 patients are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 31 of whom are on ventilator support and 86 on supplemental oxygen.
Three patients are on observation. Another 67 patients are separately on supplementary oxygen with 58 of them in the general wards. 17 patients are in the High Dependency Unit (HDU).
