How Nairobi Plans to Decongest Pumwani Maternal Hospital
The hospital handles about 25,000 to 30,000 deliveries per year...
✨ Key Highlights
Nairobi County is building an additional newborn unit at Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital to alleviate crowding at Pumwani Maternal Hospital and improve maternal healthcare in the region.
- The new unit will add 53 beds to address critical health challenges, including high maternal mortality rates.
- Currently, Pumwani Hospital handles 25,000 to 30,000 deliveries per year, leading to thousands of mothers seeking delivery services there.
- CEO Dr. Fredrick Obwanda stated the project is a milestone in tackling overcrowding and improving neonatal care, allowing for skin-to-skin (kangaroo mother) care.
- The project also aims to restore dignity to mothers and newborns through a zero-separation approach, as highlighted by Board Chair Dr. Dorcus Kemunto.
- This development comes as Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) faces an upsurge in patients due to the ongoing medics' strike, with its maternity department handling double its normal intake.
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Kenya Advances Healthcare Infrastructure and Practitioner Licensing - October 2025
The Kenyan government is accelerating the completion of the East African Kidney Institute (EAKI) in Nairobi, a project described by Medical Services Principal Secretary Ouma Oluga as transformative for specialized healthcare in the region. In a separate initiative, Nairobi County is building an additional newborn unit at Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital to alleviate crowding at Pumwani Maternal Hospital and improve maternal healthcare. To ensure regulatory compliance, the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) has opened the renewal window for 2026 medical and dental licenses. Practitioners and health facilities are urged to apply by October 31, as operating without a valid license is a serious offense.
