Kenya expands healthcare access through new hospital and sensory health initiatives

Kenya is implementing several initiatives to expand specialized healthcare services, focusing on sensory health and regional hospital operationalization.

In Kisumu, the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) and government partners are preparing to open the 200-bed Sheikh Zayed Hospital in Holo. The facility, which was completed in 2013 with funding from the UAE-based Dar Al Ber Society, has faced operational delays since its 2017 commissioning. A joint implementation committee has been formed to oversee its phased opening, which is expected to include an outpatient department by December.

To address hearing impairments, a medical partnership between Kenya and Morocco is enhancing cochlear implantation services for children. Supported by the Princess Lalla Asmaa Foundation, the initiative aims to build local medical expertise and increase access to transformative hearing care.

Additionally, the Vision Impact Scale-Up Project, funded by CBM and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, is targeting eye and ear health in Mombasa, Nakuru, and Kakamega counties. The project aims to reach over 1.2 million people through cataract surgeries, spectacle provision, and training for thousands of health personnel to combat preventable visual and hearing impairments.