Meru Teaching and Referral Hospital, in collaboration with Smile Train and Kids Operating Room (KidsOR) have opened a new pediatric theatre to provide specialized surgical care to children in Meru county to ensure they continue with their education.
The one of its kind facility is the second to be established in the country, the first being in Makueni county.
Meru county governor Kawira Mwangaza thanked the two organizations for the initiative, further stating the importance of making the facility a centre of excellence in pediatric surgery.
She urged parents with children in need of surgeries within Meru and its environs to seek treatment for their children.
“The idea to equip a pediatric theatre was necessitated by the need to make the facility a
centre of excellence in pediatric surgery and in rehabilitative surgery since many children fail to
go to school due to stigmatization,” she explained, further noting that the completion of the hospital has enhanced the hospital’s status as a regional referral hospital.
Dr. Esther Njoroge-Muriithi, Senior Vice President Global Medical Programs at Smile Train said the theatre is a big win for children who will now be able to get timely and effective access to the much needed surgical care.
KidsOR Africa Director Rosemary Mugwe added that the opening of the new pediatric theatre is a significant milestone towards efforts to improve children surgery.
The new pediatric theatre is equipped with approximately 3,000 pieces of state-of-the-art equipment. The facility will provide a safe and child-friendly environment for children to receive surgical care, improving their chances of successful treatment and recovery.
Statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO) show that over 85 percent of the world’s children in need of surgery live in low and middle income countries, with most of them failing to get education due to their condition.
By Jeff Mwangi
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