Nakuru’s Annex Hospital in dire need for renovation

Provincial General Hospital Annex, one of the oldest health facilities in Nakuru County has no title deed for the land it sits on. 

The 50-year-old medical facility was founded by Mzee Jomo Kenyatta after he ordered a split of the underutilised Nakuru War Memorial Hospital land into two, a few years after independence.

In its report, the Elburgon Ward MCA Njuguna Mwaura-led Nakuru County Assembly health committee, says the facility needs a major facelift to ease congestion at the overstretched Nakuru Level Five Hospital.

Kabazi Ward MCA Peter Kibe Mbae said it was ironical that despite sitting on a government land, Provincial General Hospital Annex, lacks land ownership documents at a time when Governor Lee Kinyanjui’s administration has stepped up the issuance of land title deeds to residents.

WAR VETERANS

“Nakuru War Memorial Hospital is under private ownership and the county government should move fast and revert the land to the county government,” said Dr Mbae.

Dr Mbae said that Nakuru War Memorial Hospital was established to take care of the veterans of the First and Second World wars.

 “The land at which Nakuru War Memorial Hospital sits on ought to have been reverted to the government. The facility should be managed by Nakuru Level Five Hospital,” said Dr Mbae.

The assembly health report paints a sorry state of the Annex Hospital.

 “The security of patients and the facility is not assured as the hospital has no permanent perimeter wall,” said the report.

The report further revealed that the hospital’s only ambulance is in poor condition and patients are referred to Nakuru Level Five Hospital for emergency cases.

Besides, the dilapidated buildings, the pathways leading to the hospital are full of potholes.   

LACK OF STAFF

“The hospital staff quarters are in deplorable condition, there is an acute shortage of critical cadre staff such as nurses, clinicians, lab technicians and physiotherapists,” said the report.

The health committee proposed a raft of recommendations among them compelling the department of Lands and physical Planning to start a process of issuing land documents in the name of Annex Hospital.

In a bid to cut down on electricity bill, the committee recommended that the hospital management install solar heating system.

“To enhance maximum security, the hospital management should also erect a permanent perimeter wall and install CCTV cameras,” said the report.

The committee further recommended that the hospital should be upgraded to level four status. The health committee further recommended that all male and female private rooms be refurbished.

The committee also wants maternity wards revamped by procuring new hospital beds, drugs and equipment to attract more patients.

The hospital has old and abandoned buildings which the health committee recommended should be renovated and be converted into administration blocks.