Mombasa: In readiness for the peak tourist season, eight European Union consuls assessed the preparedness and capacity of hospitals in Mombasa to handle medical emergencies. The move comes amid a robust plan by the Ministry of Tourism to progressively increase the number of visitors from 2.1 million to 5 million annually by 2027.
According to Kenya News Agency, the Consuls from Belgium, Hungary, France, Ireland, Poland, Finland, Austria, and Denmark were impressed by investments made by hospitals in Mombasa. They visited the Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital, Aga Khan Hospital, and Mombasa Hospital. Mr. Lou Dierick, Honorary Consul of Belgium, expressed interest in ensuring emergency care for their nationals in case of accidents or attacks to secure quality medical services.
Mombasa Hospital, the oldest and not-for-profit hospital, has invested significantly in advanced medical equipment, with facilities including four operating rooms and the only modular theatre in the Coast region. The hospital
has fully recovered from a 2019 fire, constructing a new three-storey building with sea-facing rooms.
Dr. Samson Bebora, the hospital’s Board of Management Vice Chairman, highlighted the hospital’s extensive medical services, including an endoscopy unit, Intensive Care Unit, Renal and Dialysis, High Dependency Unit, and a radiology unit with three tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging. The hospital operates as an international vaccination centre and was the sole COVID-19 testing centre in the region during the pandemic.
The consuls showed particular interest in the hospital’s capacity to manage mass accidents. Ms. Sellina Ambitho, Nursing Director, affirmed the hospital’s preparedness with a disaster plan that efficiently manages mass accidents, assigning roles to all hospital workers. The hospital remains a reliable healthcare provider, continuously advancing its services and maintaining partnerships with international and local insurance providers.