Thousands affected as Eastleigh hospital shuts down amid funding cuts

The IOM Hospital in Eastleigh is set to shut down at the end of this month due to a lack of funding. The facility, which has been serving residents of Eastleigh and surrounding areas for years, will cease all operations on June 30.

Hussein Roba, the chairman of the Eastleigh Residents Association, raised the alarm on the effects the shutdown will have on the local community. He said the hospital served thousands of low-income families and refugees, many of whom relied on it for regular and emergency healthcare services.

“This hospital used to get funding from the government of America, but the president has now stopped the funding,” Hussein said.

He added that the withdrawal of financial support has made it impossible for the hospital to continue operating.

The facility has started the process of closing down. Stocks are being cleared, and patients who visit the hospital are being informed about the upcoming shutdown.

The management has already informed the building’s owner that they will no longer be tenants after this month.

The hospital was known for providing treatment for Tuberculosis, HIV, and other diseases. It was also one of the few centres in Nairobi that provided free ARVs to HIV patients.

According to Hussein, the hospital served between 150 to 200 people daily. “There are people who had appointments in August, September and October. They will now have to find other options,” Hussein said.

When Eastleigh Voice visited the hospital, only a few people could be seen. Most of the offices were closed, and the once-busy waiting areas were almost empty. Drugs were limited, and the meeting rooms had already started gathering dust.

Refugees who relied on the hospital are now left in uncertainty. Many of them have no alternative source of medical care. The hospital was originally established to provide health services to refugees and had since grown to serve residents across Nairobi’s sub-counties.

Amina Abdullahi, a resident of 10th Street in Eastleigh, expressed concern. “This is where my children and I received treatment over the past five years. It’s sad seeing the hospital closed,” she said.

Hussein called on both the American and Kenyan governments to intervene. “We are requesting the government of America not to stop the funding, and we are also calling on our government to come to our rescue,” he said.

The exact number of people who will be affected by the closure is still unclear, but community leaders say the impact will be widespread.

The hospital has played a key role in health service delivery for both locals and non-citizens in Nairobi.

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Residents are now urging quick action to prevent a health crisis in the area.