New Bondeni maternity theatre eases pressure on PGH mother-baby wing

For decades, expectant mothers in Nakuru East and its surrounding areas in need of a CS procedure were referred to the crowded Nakuru Teaching and Referral Hospital (PGH).

This was because Bondeni Sub-County Hospital lacked a functional theatre, hence any cases needing surgical intervention were handled at PGH.

This situation has now changed with the revival of the Bondeni maternity theatre which, on September 2, conducted its first cesarean section (CS).

The facility’s Medical Superintendent, Dr. Joyce Yator, says the revival of the maternity theatre will ease the burden of maternal healthcare in Nakuru.

She says the hospital handles an average of 100 births every month, with about half of those cases being referred to PGH whenever complications arise.

“This is a huge relief for us as a facility and our patients. Mothers can now access safe deliveries closer to their homes, and our staff will be gaining valuable experience in handling cases that we previously had to refer,” Dr. Yator says.

The County Health Executive, Roselyn Mungai, says the goal is to grow the capability of what she describes as low-volume level four hospitals by expanding service delivery options and units, while at the same time decongesting PGH.

“We want to ensure that every mother has access to safe delivery services without necessarily having to go to PGH. That is how we build a stronger, more reliable health system,” Mungai says.

Nakuru County currently operates 15 level four hospitals, which the county plans to make fully functional and optimal.

CEC Mungai says this approach will not only bring services closer to the people but also reduce maternal and infant mortality rates across the county.

According to the county, as the workload at the facility increases, staffing levels are also expected to rise.

For the next month, the hospital will receive support from skilled medical staff drawn from larger hospitals to provide specialist care and help stabilize operations as the facility grows.

As one of Nakuru’s oldest facilities, Bondeni Hospital has long been part of the community’s story and has even witnessed the births of notable figures, including Housing Principal Secretary Charles Hinga, among others.