Health

GE Healthcare to set up Sh1.3bn training school in Nairobi

United States-based conglomerate General Electric is set to commission a healthcare training school in Nairobi’s Karen neighbourhood this year, an investment that will cost the company Sh1.3 billion over the next ten years.

The firm, which is also undertaking key energy projects in Kenya, says it will install x-ray, mammography and ultrasound machines, among others, in the facility, which will be operational by November.

The centre, the first by GE in the continent, will have about 15 of the firm’s experts offer medical professionals in the region training on how to handle the equipment.

“The centre is set to become GE’s first dedicated skills development facility in Africa that will serve Kenya and the wider East Africa,” said Farid Fezoua, the President and CEO of GE Healthcare Africa.

“It will initially offer biomedical and clinical applications training courses and over the longer-term will be expanded to offer leadership, technical and clinical education courses.”

The Kenya training centre is part of GE Healthcare’s global commitment to invest over $1 billion (about Sh102 billion) in the development and delivery of localized offerings for the healthcare sector.

GE says there is a shortage of qualified healthcare professionals in East Africa and the training centre will help reduce this skills gap and help develop a pipeline of future biomedical engineers, radiologists and technicians.