NAIROBI, Kenya- Cabinet has endorsed a hospital expansion programme that includes a new 2,000-bed Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital and a 1,000-bed Level Six hospital in Mombasa.
The plan also includes adding 300 beds each to 13 Level Five hospitals in Mandera, Marsabit, Turkana, Kilifi, Embu, Nakuru, Laikipia, Migori, Nyamira, Baringo, Bomet, Narok and Kisii.
The government says the expansion will increase hospital capacity, ease congestion at referral facilities and bring specialised treatment closer to patients.
The Cabinet statement did not specify the project costs or construction timelines.
A separate Sh8 billion programme with France will establish and equip specialised head and neck surgical units at Kenyatta National Hospital, Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital and the University of Nairobi Dental Hospital.
It will also train 5,000 community health workers.
The initiatives are part of the government’s push to expand specialised care and strengthen referral services under Universal Health Coverage.
The Cabinet also reviewed Kenya’s preparedness following the death of a patient with an imported Ebola case.
The government said the case remained isolated and that surveillance, screening, contact tracing and health facility readiness measures had been strengthened.
