KNH breaks ground on Sh3.1bn cancer, children centre

Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) will Thursday start construction of a Sh3.1 billion centre that will house a burns unit, a cancer hostel, 24-bed Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and children’s wing.

The three storied twin tower building will host a 82-bed burns management unit, a pediatric emergency centre with 82 beds and six-bed high dependency unit.

The government, Arab Bank for Development in Africa (BADEA) and Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) will spend Sh2.9 billion in the project.

The hostel for cancer patients will cost Sh200 million and will be funded by the American Cancer Society and local donors, offering a home to terminally ill patients in need of outpatient treatment like chemotherapy and radiotherapy that runs for weeks.

KNH acting chief executive Thomas Mutie said that the twin tower is expected to ease the strain the hospital has faced recently on account of increased patients.

He added the additional ICU beds would make it possible to save more lives.

“The current 31 ICU beds are not enough and when we add the 21 we will still need to add a further 10 to meet the international standard for a hospital of this magnitude,” said Dr Mutie.

The construction comes at a time when deaths have been reported at the referral facility on ICU beds shortage.

A single ICU bed costs Sh9 million because it needs ventilators, monitors, nurses and specialists.

The hostel with a capacity of 200 people will provide temporary housing for patients from outside Nairobi for Sh500 daily.

“Cancer patients require six cycles of treatment which can be completed in 10 days and that is why the hostel is important,” said Dr Mutie.

The pediatric unit will also have a newborn unit, operating theaters and a pediatric renal unit. The construction of the will be completed in the next 18 months.