Nairobi residents living in informal settlements have a reason to smile after the Ministry of Health volunteered to offer Covid-19 vaccines in the 14 new hospitals launched by the Nairobi Metropolitan Service (NMS) last week.

 Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said the government is working closely with the NMS Directorate of Health to ensure people in the informal settlements are fully vaccinated.

“We have talked with Dr Ouma Oluga, who is in charge of health at NMS and we have agreed that soon, all these facilities will offer Covid-19 vaccine. We are targeting the elderly and the poor.

We are telling Kenyans to grab this opportunity and ensure they are vaccinated.

Majority of those admitted to the hospitals as a result of the virus have not been vaccinated,” he said.

Kagwe spoke when he and Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i unveiled three hospitals in various parts of the city:  Ng’undu Kamulu (Level Three) and two Level Two health centres in Ngomongo and Zimmerman.

Reduce congestion

NMS Director General Mohamed Badi said at least 85,000 patients have sought services from the 14 hospitals that have been launched so far.

The DG added that apart from setting up the hospitals, the roads leading to the facilities as well as drainage systems are also constructed.

“Being a Level Three hospital, Ng’undu Kamulu offers efficient services to residents and reduces congestion in major hospitals in Nairobi,” Badi added.  

NMS plans to launch the 13 remaining hospitals in the next two months.

 In August last year, President Uhuru Kenyatta directed the NMS to construct 24 hospitals across the informal settlements to make healthcare accessible.

Out of these, 14 have been commissioned and are providing medical serves to  residents.

 Gichagi in Kangemi, Mukuru Kwa Reuben, Tassia Kwa Ndege and Our Lady of Nazareth in Mukuru Kwa Njenga were opened in July.

 The Uthiru, Kiamaiko, Soweto-Kayole, Ushirika and Green Park hospitals were opened in February. Over the weekend, NMS kicked off a three-day Covid-19 vaccination exercise targeting matatu workers.