Kigumo: The County Government of Murang’a has inaugurated a new dialysis centre at Kigumo Level 4 hospital, significantly easing the burden for patients with chronic kidney disease in the area. The facility’s opening marks a pivotal moment for residents who have long faced challenges accessing necessary medical care.
According to Kenya News Agency, the new dialysis centre currently has the capacity to serve 30 patients per week and is intended to benefit individuals from Kigumo, Kandara, Gatanga, Maragua, and parts of Kahuro subcounties. This development follows the establishment of the first dialysis centre at Murang’a Level 5 hospital in 2016, which has struggled to meet the demand due to limited capacity.
Governor Irungu Kang’ata, during the commissioning of the facility, emphasized his administration’s partnership with the Benacare organisation to make dialysis services more accessible to the community. The Murang’a Level 5 hospital, equipped with only 10 machines, often results in long waiting lists, h
ighlighting the necessity of the new centre at Kigumo.
The Kigumo centre is initially fitted with three dialysis machines, with plans to increase this number to 12 by the end of the year. The facility is expected to offer 60 dialysis sessions per week, with 17 patients already registered to receive treatment. Governor Kang’ata assured that patients who are part of the Kang’ata care medical cover will receive dialysis services at no cost.
Kigumo MCA Caroline Njoroge expressed her approval of the initiative, noting the difficulties faced by patients who previously had to travel over 60 kilometers to access services at Murang’a Level 5. She highlighted that many dialysis patients are elderly, making long-distance travel particularly challenging.
Naomi Monari, CEO of Benacare, acknowledged the efforts to further expand dialysis services in collaboration with other partners. She mentioned plans for mobile dialysis services in partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim, aiming to reach patients at the grassroots leve
l and address mobility issues for those in need of care.