Japanese hospital opens first diagnostic centre in Nairobi

A top Japanese hospital has opened a multi million shilling diagnostic Centre in Nairobi ahead of plans to build a fully-fledged hospital to cater for the East African region.
Forest Japan Diagnostic Centre in Upper Hill is a scion of Grand Forest Suwanamori Japan Hospital and will according to project coordinator Mr Kenneth Otieno offer Japanese quality healthcare at prices affordable to the common man and woman. "We are open to patients from private and public hospitals and our charges resonate with those at Kenyatta hospital because profit is not our primary target," said Mr Otieno at the opening of the facility that is the first of its kind to be opened by a Japanese hospital in Sub Saharan Africa.
"Nowhere else in Kenya and the region are Computed Tomography (CT scans) available within hours," Mr Otieno stated.
Japanese ambassador to Kenya Mr Tatsushi Terada cut the tape declaring the facility open with the sweet news that the Government of Japan had extended Ksh2.9 billion to Kenya to boost the provision of universal health services.
He said Japanese interests in Kenya and tourist numbers from his country to Kenya were bound to increase in the run up and after the sixth Tokyo International Conference (TICAD VI) to be held in Nairobi in August this year. It will be the first TICAD conference to take place on the African continent.
Dr Mitsao, a neurosurgeon and cardiologist by training said he was keen to have Kenya host a fully-fledged branch of Grand Forest Japan Hospital with state of the art facilities currently unavailable or scarce locally for the ordinary citizen.
Health Cabinet Secretary Dr Cleopa Maillu said in a speech read by head of diagnostic imaging in the ministry Dr Charles Okelo that private sector participation in matters health was welcome any time.
"The Government alone cannot adequately cater for those who need medical care. We need more players like you to supplement Government efforts," he said and hailed their choice of proximity to the Kenyatta National Hospital.
"Our largest referral hospital is overwhelmed and patients will come to you because of your affordability unlike other private hospitals," he said.

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