Nakuru County team benchmarks at Nairobi's Mbagathi Hospital to establish Neonatal ICU

A delegation from Nakuru County Referral Hospital on Tuesday visited Mbagathi County Referral Hospital in Nairobi for a benchmarking exercise focused on the establishment of a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

The visiting team was led by Paediatrician Dr. E.G. Kibari and Paediatric Anaesthetist Dr. Christine Gathiru, who expressed interest in learning from Mbagathi’s successful NICU model as Nakuru County prepares to set up a similar facility.

The delegation was warmly received by Mbagathi Hospital CEO Dr. Alexander Irungu, Medical Superintendent Dr. Ericah Koima, and Neonatologist Dr. Christine Manyasi, who took them through Mbagathi’s neonatal care systems, equipment setup, and patient management protocols.

Discussions during the visit centred on best practices, infrastructure requirements, and clinical protocols, with both teams agreeing to establish a partnership that will support the development of a modern NICU at Nakuru County Referral Hospital.

Speaking during the visit, facility  Dr. Irungu lauded the collaboration, saying such inter-county partnerships are vital in improving the quality of healthcare delivery across Kenya.

“Mbagathi County Referral Hospital continues to stand out as a center of excellence in healthcare and a valuable learning platform for peer facilities. We’re proud to share our experience to help strengthen neonatal care services across counties,” Dr. Irungu said.

The Mbagathi Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Mbagathi Hospital has quickly become a lifeline for mothers and families across Nairobi.

Since its launch in 2024 by Governor Sakaja, the unit has provided specialized lifesaving care to 493 newborns admitted internally, alongside 126 referrals from other hospitals within and outside the county nearly 620 babies in total.

The NICU’s success continues to restore public confidence in Nairobi’s healthcare system. A few years ago, Irungu confirmed, many families had to travel long distances for such services, and many deaths were reported. However, since the launch of the unit by Governor Sakaja, the story has changed.