Uhuru Launches Sh846 Million UN Covid-19 Treatment Center in Nairobi

President Kenyatta on Friday launched a new coronavirus treatment center at the Nairobi Hospital.

The 100-bed capacity facility was built by the United Nations (UN) at a cost of Sh846 million as part of the body’s efforts in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.

The facility is equipped with 15 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds, 45 High Dependency Unit (HDU) beds, and 40 ward beds. The Centre was built in a record time of three months to cater to Covid-19 patients.

“It will cater to United Nations staff and their families, the entire diplomatic community, and augment the health care capacity in Kenya.  It will also be accessible to all Kenyans even after the pandemic is eliminated; and will, in future be used to treat other infectious diseases,” said Kenyatta during the inauguration.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the new facility will help decongest other hospitals in the country and hailed the Kenyan government for the steps it has taken to control the spread of Covid-19.

"I thank President Kenyatta for being on the front lines in this effort and offering a gracious contribution so that UN personnel and partners can stay and deliver with the assurance of receiving advanced care should they fall seriously ill." 

"The importance of Kenya to the UN’s regional and global operations extends to its medical facilities. Kenya’s world-class hospitals make Nairobi our destination of choice for the emergency medical treatment of humanitarian, development and peacekeeping personnel and their families as well as our other partners in Africa," Guterres said.