How Garbatula, Isiolo hospitals are transforming healthcare to meet rising demands

Located in the dry and dusty expanse of Garbatulla ward, Isiolo County, the facility serves around 200,000 people, many of whom live in remote areas and previously had to travel long distances to access medical care.

This referral facility for both Sericho and Kinna wards has been at the forefront of providing comprehensive healthcare services, even as it expands to meet the rising demand for quality care.

"Before, we faced challenges with limited resources. But now, we are equipped with advanced services and personnel that can handle a range of medical issues," Shukri Abdullahi, the hospital's medical superintendent says.

The hospital also offers a wide array of clinics, including medical, surgical, gynaecological, and general consultation services.

The maternity ward handles a range of services from routine deliveries to managing pregnancy complications, while the inpatient facilities, including dedicated wards for men, women, and children, provide essential care.

The hospital features a functional radiology department with both X-ray and ultrasound services, including a portable X-ray unit that allows critical patients to receive imaging at their bedside.

"Our radiology department was once inactive due to equipment and staffing issues, but now, we are able to provide crucial diagnostic services without delay," Shukri said, noting the hospital's increasing capacity to offer a full spectrum of care.

Shukri Abdullahi, the Medical Superintendent at Garbatula Hospital in Isiolo County. (Photo: Maureen Kinyanjui)

The expansion of Garbatula's theatre services has been another critical development.

Following technical setbacks with equipment and the oxygen plant, these issues have now been resolved.

"We can now perform complex surgeries, including C-sections, biopsies, and specialized procedures like orthopaedic surgeries," Shukri explains.

The hospital has begun offering surgical services under the guidance of specialised surgeons who visit regularly.

However, Garbatula's efforts go beyond improving internal infrastructure.

The hospital is actively redistributing medications to other facilities in the region to ensure that no drug goes to waste.

"We have a system in place where expired medications are redistributed to ensure that they are used before expiration," Shukri said.

This approach helps maintain essential medicine availability across the region while minimising waste.

On a typical day, Garbatula Hospital sees between 80 to 100 patients, and the hospital has streamlined its operations to handle these numbers efficiently.

Shukri notes that new guidelines for essential medicines have helped improve stock management, ensuring that there are no major shortages.

However, the challenges of drug expiration are an ongoing issue, with facilities working under strict guidelines to handle such cases.

The county government has also taken bold steps to address staffing shortages at Garbatula.

"Recently, we received 30 additional nurses and 20 clinical officers who have been assigned across the main hospital and rural facilities," Shukri added.

This influx of healthcare workers is essential in ensuring that the hospital can meet the increasing demand for services.

New dawn at Isiolo Referral Hospital

For years, Isiolo Teaching and Referral Hospital, the county's primary healthcare facility, struggled with overcrowding and limited resources.

To better services and with support from the World Bank, the Abdi Hassan Guyo-led county government, the hospital is on the cusp of opening a new state-of-the-art accident and emergency department.

"The old emergency department could only hold five patients, but now, the capacity is being expanded to 30, with 10 additional beds for triage and 20 for patients," said Samuel Sirengo, a nursing officer at the facility,

This expansion is set to alleviate pressure on the hospital, which serves not just Isiolo County, but also neighbouring counties like Samburu, Marsabit, and Meru.

Samuel Sirengo (centre), a nursing officer at Isiolo Teaching and Referral Hospital (Photo: Maureen Kinyanjui)

"Our new ICU and HDU units will drastically increase our capacity to care for critically ill patients. The ICU's bed capacity has increased from two to 10, and the HDU will now accommodate 10 patients instead of four," Sirengo added.

In addition to the enhanced emergency services, Isiolo Teaching and Referral Hospital is now home to a functioning renal unit, which serves patients with kidney conditions across the region.

The hospital has also acquired a CT scan machine, improving diagnostic capabilities and reducing the need for referrals to distant facilities.

The hospital's pharmacy, which receives regular shipments of medication from Kemsa, ensures that patients have access to necessary drugs on time.

"We are now able to deliver quarterly medications, which is a significant improvement," Sirengo explains.

A view of the entrance to the Isiolo Teaching and Referral Hospital. (Photo: Maureen Kinyanjui)

But it's not just about patient care at the Referral Hospital.

Infrastructural improvements

The facility is also working on infrastructural improvements, including acquiring two coolers to hold up to eight bodies in the morgue.

These efforts are part of the hospital's larger goal to address the growing needs of a rapidly expanding population.

The morgue has been closed for eight months for renovation aimed at modernising its body preservation facilities.

Before its closure, the facility could accommodate only 12 bodies, but it often exceeded this capacity, holding as many as 33 unclaimed bodies at one time.

The overflow was due to the facility's role in preserving bodies from road accidents, bandit and terrorist attacks, and natural deaths, including stillbirths.

In a report to the Senate Health Committee on the facility's condition, County Secretary Dade Boru highlighted the strain on services saying, "Over the years, with the growth of the population, the facility has been handling bodies beyond its capacity, creating the need to expand it to handle more bodies and overhaul the existing cooling system," Boru said.

Another exciting development is the new maternity wing, currently under construction thanks to a partnership with Safaricom's corporate social responsibility programme.

"The new maternity unit will provide modern, efficient care for women in labour, and will house the neonatal unit as well," Sirengo shares. Once completed, the new facility will improve the quality of maternal care and ease pressure on existing maternity wards.

Beyond the medical equipment and infrastructure, Isiolo's healthcare facilities are benefitting from increased staffing.

The county government has recently hired 30 nurses and 20 clinical officers, who have been deployed to both urban and rural hospitals, significantly reducing the pressure on existing staff.

"The changes we are witnessing in both hospitals are just the start of a broader transformation in Isiolo's healthcare system. With more capacity, better facilities, and skilled staff, we are moving toward a future where every patient receives the care they deserve," Sirengo said.