Kisumu: The M-Pesa Foundation has commenced construction of a Sh98 million paediatric and neonatal intensive care complex at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH). This project aims to expand access to specialised child critical care services across the Lake Region.
According to Kenya News Agency, the facility, located at JOOTRH’s Obama Children’s Hospital, will house a Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). JOOTRH will contribute an additional Sh25 million to enhance the facility’s scope and quality. Joseph Ogutu, Safaricom Foundation chairman, highlighted the substantial demand for specialised child critical care in a region serving approximately 10 million people.
During the groundbreaking ceremony, Ogutu detailed that the facility will include an eight-bed paediatric ICU and a nine-bed neonatal ICU, consultation rooms, a pharmacy, boardrooms, and supporting clinical spaces. The foundation commits to funding construction and equipping the units to meet modern critical care standards.
Ogutu emphasized the importance of the project in alleviating congestion at the hospital and reducing the burden on families seeking specialised services. He noted that the proposal was expedited after Safaricom’s technical teams identified significant unmet needs in the region, expressing anticipation for the facility’s commissioning.
Kisumu Governor Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o addressed the structural gap in Kenya’s public health system, noting that paediatric and neonatal critical care has lagged behind adult ICU development. He highlighted the lack of adequate public-sector paediatric ICU capacity in the Lake Region Economic Bloc, forcing families to seek treatment in distant locations.
Prof. Nyong’o shared statistics indicating that nearly one-third of pediatric deaths in the region occur within 24 hours of admission due to delayed access to care. He praised the Safaricom partnership as a strategic investment aligned with the county’s plan to strengthen critical care infrastructure and resources.
JOOTRH CEO Dr. Joshua Clinton Okise stated that the new PICU and NICU are central to the hospital’s goal of becoming a medical services centre of excellence in East and Central Africa. JOOTRH currently serves patients from the Lake Region Economic Bloc and beyond.
Dr. Okise assured that the hospital is preparing to operationalise the unit by October, with plans to train and recruit specialised personnel. He emphasized the necessity of highly trained teams and continuous staffing for effective neonatal and paediatric intensive care.
Dr. Lollah Molla, head of Obama Children’s Hospital, emphasized the project’s significance in addressing the region’s lack of dedicated paediatric ICU facilities. She noted that JOOTRH, a Level 6A facility, handles referrals from multiple counties and occasionally operates beyond its capacity due to demand.
Dr. Molla revealed plans for future expansion of the building to eventually house a comprehensive paediatric complex, solidifying its role as a regional referral centre. Once completed, the PICU and NICU are expected to improve survival outcomes, reduce referrals, and enhance JOOTRH’s teaching and research capabilities.
