A delegation from the Nakuru County Referral Hospital has conducted a benchmarking visit to Nairobi’s Mbagathi County Referral Hospital as part of efforts to establish a state-of-the-art Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The team, led by Paediatrician Dr. E.G. Kibari and Paediatric Anaesthetist Dr. Christine Gathiru, toured the Mbagathi facility to study its model of neonatal care and learn best practices in managing critical newborn cases. The visit underscores Nakuru County’s commitment to improving maternal and child health outcomes through modern, specialized healthcare infrastructure.
During the visit, the Nakuru delegation was received by Mbagathi Hospital CEO Dr. Alexander Irungu, Medical Superintendent Dr. Ericah Koima, and Neonatologist Dr. Christine Manyasi, who guided them through the facility’s NICU operations. The benchmarking session focused on key areas including equipment setup, infection control, patient management, and staff training. Both teams agreed to explore a formal partnership that would facilitate knowledge exchange and technical support in developing Nakuru’s upcoming NICU. Mbagathi’s NICU, established in 2024 under the leadership of Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, has already gained national recognition for its success in saving hundreds of newborn lives.
Since its launch, the Mbagathi NICU has provided specialized care to over 600 infants, including referrals from neighboring counties, significantly reducing neonatal mortality rates in Nairobi. Dr. Irungu praised the inter-county collaboration, noting that such initiatives are crucial for enhancing healthcare delivery across Kenya. We’re proud to share our experiences and support counties that aim to strengthen neonatal care. Working together helps us save more lives and build public trust in county health systems, he said.
The Nakuru team’s visit signals a growing trend of collaboration between county health departments, especially in critical care services. With plans underway to establish its own NICU, Nakuru County hopes to replicate Mbagathi’s success and make neonatal care more accessible to local families. Health officials expressed optimism that the initiative will not only improve survival rates for premature and critically ill babies but also contribute to Kenya’s broader goal of reducing infant mortality through county-led innovation and partnership.