By C, KNA
Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) has received a major boost to its pediatric services after the Maseno University Retirement and Benefit Scheme (MURBS) and the University’s Pension Scheme donated essential equipment to support the Obama Children’s Ward.
The contribution includes 100 adult bedside chairs, 20 plastic chairs for children, an incubator, and a space heater—items expected to significantly improve comfort for patients and caregivers while easing pressure on the hospital’s strained budget.
Speaking during the handover ceremony at the facility in Kisumu, MURBS Board of Trustees Chair Joshua Were said the initiative reflects the Fund’s commitment to supporting health facilities that provide critical services to vulnerable children across the region. He noted that the partnership demonstrates how pension schemes can play an active role in improving community welfare beyond their core mandate.
Pension Fund Manager Monica Ogada described the gesture as deeply personal, sharing that her own child once received timely and compassionate care at the same hospital. The donation, she said, was a meaningful way of giving back to a facility that continues to serve families in moments of distress.
Dr. Lollah Molla, the Pediatric Critical Care Director at the Obama Children’s Hospital, welcomed the new equipment, noting that caregivers have long endured inadequate seating and often resorted to using patients’ beds while keeping vigil over their children. She said the new chairs will greatly enhance comfort and hygiene within the ward.
Dr. Molla further urged the hospital and its partners to establish a dedicated room for young visitors who accompany siblings receiving treatment, and to install a modern television set to provide emotional relief and distraction for children undergoing lengthy hospital stays. She added that improved partnerships have already contributed to reduced maternal mortality and expressed optimism that sustained support will help bring these numbers closer to zero.
JOOTRH Chief Executive Officer Dr. Joshua Okise applauded the collaboration, saying the donation will bridge critical service gaps and strengthen the hospital’s capacity to deliver quality pediatric and neonatal care. He noted that the new incubator will reinforce the Newborn Unit and support ongoing efforts to reduce infant mortality.
“These contributions will benefit children from across the region, Kenya, and even beyond our borders,” Dr. Okise said as he expressed hope for continued collaboration.
