Chandaria’s Sh100m gift to hospital

By Rawlings Otieno

Chandaria Foundation has donated Sh100 million to Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital for an ultra-modern facility.

The foundation gave the money to enhance the intensive care and diagnostic services at the hospital for improved medical services.

Foundation Chair Dr Manu Chandaria said Gertrude was the only hospital specialised in children healthcare in East and Central Africa, adding that Kenya was still far from reaching the Millennium Development Goals.

“For Kenya to reach MDGs by 2015, we have to invest in healthcare. Every year we must be able to give something to improve the health of our people,” said Chandaria.

Speaking during the donation ceremony at the hospital in Muthaiga yesterday, Chandaria noted that children need top quality healthcare from professionals ranging from surgeons, physicians to pediatricians.

The new facility would now be called ‘The Chandaria Medical Centre’.

The money will be used in the construction and installation of the equipment in the medical centre that will be operational by the end of March next year.

Modern centre

The new facility will incorporate a modern diagnostic centre, an enhanced 10-bed intensive care unit with an adjacent high dependency unit. Built on four levels, it will accommodate a surgical ward with adequate provision for outpatient clinics, an ultra modern X-ray facility and CT Scan theatre.

According to the hospital Chief Executive Gordon Otieno, they receive referrals from major health facility, including East and Central African countries.

He said that the donation would help in the completion of the facility.

“We appreciate the donation that will help complete the construction of the medical facility to boost healthcare services in East and Central Africa,” said Otieno.

He exuded confidence that once the facility is complete, children’s healthcare will improve.