Turkey donates medical equipment to Kenyan hospital

By Andrew Wasike and Magdalene Mukami

NAIROBI, Kenya (AA) – The Turkish government on Monday donated vital pediatric medical equipment worth millions of Kenya shillings to a hospital in central Kenya.

Donated by the Turkish International Cooperation and Development Agency (TIKA), the equipment aims to help in the treatment of newborns as well as help prevent infant deaths.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Turkish Ambassador to Nairobi, Deniz Eke, who delivered the donation to the Kiambu Sub-County Level 4 Hospital, said Turkey was among the top five medical tourism destinations in the world, and keen to help improve the state of the health sector in Kenya.

“We are happy to see that the Turkish people can contribute to improving the health conditions of the Kenyan citizens. Whatever you do for women and children contributes to a brighter future.

"That is why Turkey identifies health cooperation as one of its priority areas in its relations and development cooperation with Kenya,” she said.

The ambassador said that the Turkish government had previously worked with various hospitals and health institutions to improve the health sector in the East African country, adding Kenya would continue to receive medical support from Turkey.

More than 5 infants at the hospital could be sharing the same bed, according to Dr. Jonah Mwangari, who is in charge of Health Services in Kiambu County.

Mwangari thanked the Turkish government, saying that the donation of 40 bassinets would be a great help in this regard, and reduce the spread of diseases from infant to infant.

“We have received 40 baby cots, six incubators and four phototherapy machines. The nursery unit is quite small and we plan to expand it to improve antenatal care and infant care.

"We are very grateful to Turkey. This [donation] will help us tame our health budget,” he said.

Nancy Njeri, a mother whose child will be able to benefit from the donated incubators, said she was grateful for the donation.

"The expensive equipment that the hospital has received will really help my child and for that, I thank the people of Turkey," she said.

The hospital's medical superintendent David Kariuki also thanked the Turkish government saying that the equipment would help prevent infant deaths and improve how the facility cares for newborns.

The donated equipment includes baby incubators, LED phototherapy units, pediatric vital signs monitors, bassinets, infrared thermometers and oxygen concentrators among others.