By S, KNA
The Embu Level Five Hospital has marked a major milestone in delivery of critical health care services following establishment of a state-of-art High Dependency Unit (HDU) ward.
The ward that is equipped with ultra-modern monitoring systems and specialised equipment is meant to provide critical care and close observation for patients discharged from the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) before being taken to general wards.
Head of ICU and Critical Care at the facility, Dr Vincent Mwenda, said the six-bed unit will ease pressure on the ICU by providing care for critically ill but stable patients who no longer require intensive care.
“We have had a challenge of discharging patients to the wards who still need close observation and specialised care and this stepdown unit will greatly assist us in easing the pressure on the ICU,” he said.
He noted that they had been forced to retain such patients in the ICU or discharge them to the wards to create room for new admissions and in the process ending up losing some for lack of that extra care at the general ward.
“We are confident by the time a patient leaves the HDU for the general ward, he/she will be very stable and ready to go home,” said Dr Mwenda.
Speaking during the official opening of the ward on Wednesday, Dr Mwenda said they are projecting to increase bed capacity to 15 to serve more patients, noting that the facility has the most active ICU in the region with referral cases from other counties including Kitui, Marsabit, Tharaka Nithi and Kirinyaga.
County Health CECM Jamal Runyenje reaffirmed the devolved unit’s commitment in strengthening healthcare infrastructure across the county.
“This unit means that patients who require close monitoring and advanced support will no longer have to be referred far away for specialised care,” he said, noting that their focus is to build a health system that prioritises life, quality and accessibility.
He said the investment was part of the county’s wider reforms aimed at upgrading healthcare facilities, recruiting specialists and enhancing both preventative and curative services.
At the same time, Jamal said they were also in the process of putting up a modern emergency and trauma centre at the facility to provide immediate and specialised care for patients with severe or life-threatening injuries from accidents, violence or traumatic events.
