GE opens up Sh1.3 billion training Institute in Kenya

NAIROBI, KENYA: US-based multinational General Electric (GE) has launched a Sh1.3 billion healthcare skills and training school in Nairobi that is set to train 10,000 healthcare professionals in the next three years. The facility, which is the first of its kind in Africa by GE, will bring on board radiologists, biomedical engineers, and technicians and train them on better health practices. During the opening of the inaugural centre, CS in the Ministry of Health Dr Cleopa Mailu said that the Karen-based facility will help bridge the skill gap in the country and the region. "It will play a critical role in supporting the development of a pipeline of future biomedical engineers, radiologists and technicians thus help reduce skills gap and build a solid national healthcare system," he said. He added that the seven year-innovative financing model that it struck with GE allows the country to sustainably budget medical expenditure over several years. According to GE Healthcare CEO John Flannery, the centre will serve as benchmark for Africa before similar centres are set up in other regions of the continent. "We hope to replicate this across Africa. All equipment are as good as the people who handle them and that is why there is need for training," said Flannery. The centre comes following the signing of a Sh42 billion partnership between Kenya GE in February to equip 98 hospitals with radiology equipment. So far, 70 hospitals in 42 counties have been equipped with modernized radiology departments. According to Dr Mailu, the remaining hospitals will be equipped in the next few months. In addition, five hospitals have been installed with digital mammograms to screen breast cancer, which is a leading killer among Kenya women. Yesterday, GE committed to three new partnerships with Kenya Medical Training College and global partners IntraHealth and Management Sciences for Health to enhance human capital management in health sector