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KENYA—Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) and government partners are preparing to operationalize Sheikh Zayed Hospital in Holo, Seme Sub-County, Kisumu, to expand access to healthcare services.

The 200-bed facility is expected to open with an outpatient department (OPD) by December, following an agreement between JOOTRH, the National Government, the Kisumu County Government, the Office of the Seme Member of Parliament, and the Da’Wah Development Group.

Joint effort to restart facility

The partners agreed to accelerate preparations after Seme MP Dr. James Nyikal, who chairs the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Health, convened stakeholders to address the administrative and operational issues that have delayed the facility’s use.

Construction was completed in 2013 at a reported cost of nearly Sh200 million (US$1.54 million) through donor funding from the UAE-based Dar Al Ber Society.

The facility was commissioned in 2017 but has remained largely unused amid challenges affecting its operationalization.

During a recent assessment, developers led by Abdulqadir Omar inspected several sections of the three-storey complex.

These include consultation rooms, a pharmacy, an X-ray unit, wards, a laundry, a mortuary and water infrastructure.

Omar said the renewed stakeholder engagement provided an opportunity to address the outstanding issues and move the project towards service delivery.

Kisumu County Health Chief Officer Dr Ojwang’ Lusi called for implementation of the agreed measures to increase access to healthcare in Seme and neighbouring areas.

Meanwhile, JOOTRH Acting CEO Dr Joshua Okise said the hospital’s operationalization would support the institution’s approach to community-based healthcare, outreach services, and mental wellness programmes.

Focus on phased opening

To coordinate the work, the partners have established a joint implementation committee co-chaired by Lusi and Okise.

The committee will oversee the activities required to prepare the facility for service delivery.

The national government and participating partners are expected to share renovation and equipment costs.

The immediate focus is the ground-floor OPD, which partners are targeting to open by December.

The remaining sections of the facility are expected to become operational progressively as renovation, equipment installation and other preparations are completed.

The project could also provide additional capacity for primary and outpatient services in Seme while creating a referral link with JOOTRH.

For the participating health authorities, integrating the facility into the wider county and national health system will require coordinating staffing, equipment, supplies, maintenance, and referral pathways.

The partners have therefore prioritised the OPD as the first operational section, while work on the rest of the hospital continues.

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