The Aga Khan Hospital in Kisumu, Kenya, has undergone a monumental expansion, significantly enhancing the healthcare landscape for the Lake Region’s populace. Originally a 70-bed facility, it has been transformed into a 123-bed secondary hospital equipped with cutting-edge diagnostic services.
This ultra-modern establishment now boasts a dedicated Accidents and Emergency Unit, an expanded Intensive Care Unit, the region’s inaugural Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, and its first Sleep Lab equipped with advanced technology for diagnosing and treating sleep disorders.
Achieving the prestigious Level 5 certification from SafeCare Health Standards, the highest achievable level, Aga Khan Hospital, Kisumu offers comprehensive care across over 30 clinical specialties and subspecialties. These include but are not limited to cardiology, oncology, neurology, psychiatry, advanced surgeries, family medicine, endocrinology, gastroenterology, gynecology, nephrology, orthopedics, pediatrics, and neonatology.
Princess Zahra Aga Khan, Chair of the Executive Committee of the Aga Khan Health Services, emphasized the hospital’s critical role in providing essential health services to nearly 600,000 local residents and extending its reach to the approximately 6.6 million inhabitants of the Lake Region. The integration of this hospital into a broader network aims to deliver timely, effective care to those most in need, thus fulfilling the organization’s mission of treating disease and caring for individuals holistically.
Since its inception in 1952, Aga Khan Hospital, Kisumu, has progressively broadened its services and presence, becoming the leading private hospital in the region. It caters to patients from over 15 counties within the Lake Region and also accommodates international patients from Uganda and Tanzania. Its reputation as a hub for qualified healthcare professionals offering state-of-the-art care is well-established.
In a bid to enhance healthcare accessibility, plans are in motion to establish 10 additional outreach health centers, adding to the already existing network of 13. These centers are designed to fortify the primary line of care in Kisumu and its environs, ensuring a cohesive healthcare network that delivers comprehensive care at all levels.
The hospital’s expansion initiative, which began with the introduction of an MRI facility in 2015 and saw the commencement of the new building in 2021, represents a total investment of nearly $19 million. This project was made possible through the substantial support of Agence Française de Développement (AFD).
This expansion underscores the enduring partnership between the Government of Kenya, AFD, and the Aga Khan Development Network, aimed at enhancing the accessibility of affordable quality healthcare in the country. It mirrors the collaborative efforts that led to the recent upgrade of the Aga Khan Hospital in Mombasa.
Ms. Hélène N’Garnim-Ganga, Regional Director Eastern Africa at AFD, lauded the project as a testament to the robust partnership with the Aga Khan Health Services. She highlighted its role in improving the health outcomes of Kenyans by positioning Aga Khan Kisumu Hospital as a referral center for secondary care and supporting affiliated outreach health centers in the broader Kisumu region.
Moreover, the hospital’s expansion aligns with the Aga Khan’s Green Building Initiative, incorporating eco-friendly solutions to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. This approach not only adapts the hospital to climate change but also sets a precedent for integrating sustainable practices in healthcare infrastructure, ensuring quality care within a greener, more resilient framework.
Kisumu City News
