Mombasa County has received medical equipment valued at Sh60 million to boost neonatal care and maternal health services donated by the Czech Republic.
The new equipment is set to revolutionise healthcare services in the Newborn Unit of the Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital.
Commissioning of the new medical equipment was done by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, Jiri Kozak accompanied by their Ambassador Nicol Adamcova.
Speaking at the Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital (CGTRH), Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Sharif Nassir assured that the addition of this equipment to the hospital has put the county at the forefront of delivering quality care to Kenyans.
“This equipment will go a long way towards supporting our resolve to provide medical services to children under the age of five, free of charge in Mombasa because the hospital attends to at least 180–230 babies every month,” Nassir said.
Among the apparatus donated were six incubators, along with a specialised transport incubator, two radiant warmers, six phototherapy units, four baby cots, two electro-delivery beds, and a gynaecological chair essential for maternal care.
The governor said that the hospital records a staggering influx of newborn referrals, constituting approximately 40 to 50 percent of its patient population. This surge, he said is attributed to the hospital’s reputation for providing exceptional medical care, which attracts referrals from various parts of Mombasa and beyond.
He noted that the CGTRH is the only hospital within the region both public and private that has a transport incubator, marking a big achievement for the hospital.
The Czech Republic Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jiri Kozak said that the modern devices donated are going to play a big role in saving the lives of newborns and mothers.
“The devices are state-of-the art and are used in many Czech hospitals and we take pride in their effectiveness,” Kozak said.
The Chief Executive Officer of Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital, Iqbal Khandwalla said that the equipment can rarely be found in private healthcare facilities as he highlighted that the intricate nature of the equipment such as the transport incubator undergoes rigorous calibration to ensure optimal conditions for newborns’ survival.
“The equipment is very effective even in other countries since it gives the newborns the best environment to grow up in and efficiency in the management of neonatal jaundice,” Khandwalla said.
“We are extremely grateful to the Czech Republic for making this happen and everyone for playing a crucial role in making sure the equipment arrived safe,” he added.
By Fatma Said and Nuru Soud
