Helping hand to healthcare in Kenya

D. Hinduja Hospital & Medical Research Centre, Mumbai, has offered Kenya its expertise to help improve its public healthcare sys­tem. The modalities of possible collabora­tion were discussed by its senior executives with representatives of the government of Kenya and United Nation Development Programme (UNDP) at a meeting in Mumbai in the last week of October.

“There is a strong need for need for increased sustainability, accessibility and improvement of quality care in the health system and we are willing to help,” said Dr Sanjay Agarwala, Director, Professional Services and Head of the Orthopaedics & Traumatology Department.

“Kenya being the hub for Eastern Africa has a lot of potential in solving the health­care needs of the neighbouring countries as well. An exchange of information and expertise through sustained political com­mitment could lead to better medical out­comes in the region,” he added.

D. Hinduja Hospital Medical Research Centre has been providing one of the best clinical cares in India. It has offered exchange programmes for doctors and nurses which will help enhancement of skills for professionals in Kenya. Similarly, P. D. Hinduja College of Nursing can dem­onstrate the nuances of care giving to the key government or private institutions in East Africa.

Kenya can take cues from the highly suc­cessful rural health program run by P. D. Hinduja Hospital. The program provides access to quality healthcare to rural popu­lation through advanced state of the art Mobile Health Units. This expertise can be of great help to Kenya to help tackle the challenges of accessibility and affordability of healthcare.

The Kenyan and UNDP officials evoked keen interest in the offer and promised to take it forward. The meeting was attended by Kenyan High Commissioner to India, Willy Kipkorir Bett, and UNDP Representative in Kenya Siddharth Chatterjee. On behalf of the Hinduja Hospital group of institutions, its Director, Dr Sanjay Agarwala and Head (Marketing) Rajiv Himmat were present.