Machakos Level 5 Hospital has received two Cuban Doctors specialized in neurosurgery and cardiology.
Speaking in his office, Machakos Health CECM, Dr Ancent Kituku, said that the Cuban and Kenyan Governments had a mutual agreement to bring over the two Cuban doctors.
“We received two Cuban Specialist Doctors who are part and parcel of the mutual agreement between Kenya and the Cuban government,” Kituku said.
The Health CECM disclosed that the doctors would be stationed at Machakos Level 5 Referral hospital, therefore patients with brain tumors and heart illnesses would now get the required treatment.
“The two doctors will be based at Machakos Level 5 Referral hospital to help treat patients with brain tumor and heart diseases,” said Kituku.
He added that the main problem in Machakos hospital had been infectious diseases but due to lifestyle changes, non-communicable diseases have become common and that’s why the specialists have come on board.
Kituku explained that one of the doctors, Dr Nilo Norono Morales, the Cardiologist, would deal with patients with heart diseases, while Dr Orlando Manuel Rios Mastrapa, the neurosurgeon would handle patients with brain tumors and those requiring brain surgeries after accidents.
The Health CECM noted that Machakos has never had these two types of specialists and that the County had 59 doctors currently undergoing training in neurosurgery, cardiothoracic surgery and oncology.
“We never had these types of specialists before. We appreciate the Government for ensuring we get the privilege,” Kituku noted.
“Our own 59 doctors are currently undergoing training in various health fields such as neurosurgery, oncology, cardiothoracic surgery to help in curbing the menace in those fields,” Kituku said.
He urged all patients who have been going to private and public hospitals in Nairobi for treatment to come to Machakos level 5 where they could access cardiology and neurosurgery services.
He added that any patient that required the specialised services would be referred from level 4 to level 5 hospitals where they would be attended to.
Last year, Health CS Mutahi Kagwe, signed a new cooperation agreement with the Cuban Minister of Public Health, which saw a brigade of 101 specialist Cuban doctors travel to Kenya as part of a medical exchange programme between the two countries.
The CS said the move would improve Kenya’s primary healthcare and lauded the contribution of the Cuban doctors during the Covid-19 pandemic where they have been a critical pillar in the fight against Covid.
By Anne Kangero and Janet Shitote
