Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has expressed the government’s commitment to undertake a much-deserved facelift of the Mathari Teaching and Referral Hospital.
Speaking during a visit to the hospital, Kagwe said the facility will benefit from dedicated resources to ensure it occupies its rightful place as the premier teaching and referral hospital that it is supposed to be.
“We as a Ministry and the Government at large appreciate the work you do to serve some of the most vulnerable members of the society. Mental health patients are some of the most vulnerable members of society whose wellness is compromised by their status and need support,” said the health CS.
While addressing hospital staff, the Cabinet Secretary lauded efforts of all workers at the facility. “I urge you not to be discouraged even when things seem so difficult. God will reward you for your selfless efforts,” observed Kagwe.
During the visit, the health CS witnessed the vaccination of patients and members of the public at the facility as part of the National accelerated vaccination campaign which was launched last week.
The CS was accompanied by his interior counterpart Dr. Fred Matiang’i who said the maximum-security unit at the facility which attends to inmates with mental conditions will also receive a facelift.
The maximum-security unit was established in 1978 and has hardly benefitted from an upgrade.
CS Matiang’i lauded the efforts of the hospital staff in ensuring that all the inmates at the facility have been vaccinated against Covid-19 disease.
Others who attended the event included health CAS Dr. Mercy Mwangangi, Presidential Advisor on Mental Health and Mathari Board Member, Dr. Frank Njenga, Board Chair Prof. Atwoli Lukoye, State Department for Correctional Services Principal Secretary (PS) Zeinab Hussein and Kenya Prisons’ Service Commissioner General Wycliffe Ogalo.
By Joseph Ng’ang’a
