[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 80 (Tuesday, June 20, 2006)]
[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''.

                          ____________________