[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1215-E1216]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

KAREN HOSPITAL

______

HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

of new york

in the house of representatives

Tuesday, June 20, 2006

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, a few months ago, there was an historic
moment that was, sadly, underreported by the news media in this county
and in much of the rest of the world. It is only recently that I came
to learn of it and I wish to bring it to the attention of this House.
On March 31, outside of Nairobi, Kenya, there was a dedication
ceremony for the Karen Hospital, which is the first full-service
hospital opened in Kenya since the colonial era, before that country
became an independent state within the community of nations.
Karen Hospital is located in the Nairobi suburb of Karen, which many
will recognize as the setting for the movie, ``Out of Africa,'' which
told the story of author Isak Dinesen, who used the pen name Karen
Blixen, and who lived and worked in Kenya and wrote about that country
and her love for it.

[[Page E1216]]

The opening of Karen Hospital has important implications for health
care in Kenya and throughout East Africa. This state-of-the-art
facility will provide opportunities for teaching health-care
professionals--not just doctors, but nurses, administrators, orderlies,
and others--who will bring their knowledge and skills into cities and
villages across the region.
When Karen Hospital was opened formally, its chief executive officer,
Dr. Betty Gikonyo--who received her medical education in the United
States--made a speech, in the presence of President Mwai Kibaki, that
reflected the pride and hard work of bringing this hospital from a mere
conception to a full-fledged operating unit serving the people of
Kenya.
Mr. Speaker, if there is no objection, I would like to place excerpts
of the address by Dr. Gikonyo in the Congressional Record. Such a
historic occasion deserves to be paid much more attention than it has
so far received.

Excerpts From a Speech by Dr. Betty Gikonyo, Chief Executive Officer,
the Karen Hospital, Friday, March 31, 2006

We have gathered here to celebrate a special day, which
will form a milestone in the history of The Karen Hospital.
21 years ago a dream was born, nurtured over the years and
now realized. Over the last 10 years we have gone through a
process of feasibility studies, consultation, intense
planning resulting in a business plan for the Karen Hospital.
The search for a financier was not an easy one and it took us
over 5 years to convince financial institutions that a
medical business is a viable option. We kept on knocking
at their doors. Nevertheless some doors were open. We
received some offers from both regional and local banks.
In consultation with our financial advisers opted for a
loan in Kenya Shillings that could finance the two major
components of the project which are including building and
acquisition of medical equipment. Your Excellency Sir,
please, allow us to thank the Kenya Commercial Bank, for
believing in our vision and trusting the business plan of
a local investor. Kenya Commercial Bank took the risk and
proudly partnered with us in undertaking a project of this
magnitude. To the KCB Board of Directors and Management
Asanteni Sana. You have worked closely with in the
formation of this project to see it conclude successfully.
Medical equipment are an expensive undertaking and we wish
to recognize Philips Medical Systems Netherlands and
Frescenius Renal Supplies of Germany who entered into
equipment financing credit plans to enable us to equip the
hospital with ultra modem state of the art equipment in all
departments as Your Excellency has had an opportunity to see.
This has been achieved through hardwork, commitment and
consistency of purpose by a team of financial consultants,
medical consultants, hospital engineers and building and
civil engineers and a dedicated contractor and sub-
contractors. By following the clearly laid out rules we were
able to import clear all equipment in good time for
installation.
The hospital building comprises of 4 floors each with four
wings thoughtfully planned to ensure all services are
accessed with minimum effort and maximum convenience to our
patients and staff. . . .
The Karen Hospital is a world class ultra modern health
facility bringing quality healthcare not only to Kenyans but
also to Eastern and Central Africa but beyond.
The 102 bed hospital serves patients with general ailments
alongside specialized medical and surgical interventions. It
has the newest ultra modern state-of-the art equipment,
cardiac diagnosis, interventions and surgery, intensive care,
kidney dialysis, Laparoscopic surgery, video Endoscopy and
physiotherapy. . . .
[A] Hospital is however not made of building and equipment.
Our most important resource is the highly trained and
experienced personnel in all departments. Through competitive
selection of the best qualified personnel Karen Hospital has
been manned by the best Kenya can offer in all our
departments both medical and non-medical. This includes our
permanent staff as well highly experienced team of medical
consultants who form the large panel of over 100 admitting
doctors of different areas of specialization.
Your Excellency Sir, I am happy to inform you that we have
been able to attend to 634 patients in our Accident and
Emergency department. Some with major injuries including
bullet assault cases and road traffic accidents. Additionally
we have performed a number of surgeries, endoscopies and
cardiac catheterizations and as you have seen a full wing of
inpatients with varying ailments ranging from major surgeries
to medical conditions are recuperating in our Sagana Ward.
This confirms that Kenyans have already come to know,
trust and use this facility in the last one month. We look
forward to a full house in 6 months time. The performance
so far has been very impressive and we are encouraged and
grateful for the support Kenyans have given this facility
at its inception. . . .
The City of Nairobi has been the hub of specialized medical
services for the entire country as well as for the Eastern
and Central Africa region. Indeed this has been realized in
the month of March, as we have admitted referred patients
from Tanzania (Daresalam), DRC Congo, Sudan (Khartoum), and
Burundi (Bujumbura).
Referrals from the region not only is testimony to the high
standard medical services available in Kenya but also affords
us an opportunity to boost our inflow of foreign currency to
enhance our economic growth. This is an area that can be
expanded further by the establishment of highly specialized
medical services in the private sector that would see greater
number of referral from this population of over 100 million
that forms the Eastern Africa community. We at The Karen
Hospital has addressed this very specifically by
incorporating in our hospital a cardiology program that spans
from diagnosis to interventional non-evasive procedures and
to heart surgery. We believe that more patients will be
diverted from the exodus that sees patient travel to India,
South Africa and Europe to seek some of these specialized
services. As a new centre of medical excellence, we plan to
market our services effervescently to the region and make
Kenya a preferred destination for medical services. . . .
This will provide a forum for many to channel their
energies, experiences, resources and to harness these
positively towards our mission statement. I believe that many
of us are cognizant of the benefits that come along with the
integrated teaching and referral facility globally.
We at The Karen Hospital wish to compliment and be active
participants in the implementation of the government policy
of providing promotive, preventive and curative services. We
believe there is room for the private sector to provide
specialist tertiary medical institutions to compliment those
existing in the government and indeed these are not in
competition but rather in partnership. More facilities like
Karen Hospital are needed in our countries especially in
cities Like Mombasa Kisumu and Eldoret and also in the East
African cities.
On behalf of the Board of Directors, Management, Staff of
The Karen Hospital, may once again, thank you for joining us
during this auspicious occasion.
In closing, allow me to quote Our Mentor and Teacher Dr.
Sam Mwinzi, a renowned neurologist who is with us today and
had this immortalized in our visitors book when he visited
Karen Hospital, ``May the portals of this magnificent edifice
forever remain open and overflowing with those that seek
better health as well as those that have the gift of giving
it''.

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