NAKURU, Kenya Oct 12 – Gilgil Mental Hospital in Nakuru County has received an Electro-Convulsive Therapy (ECT) machine, becoming the fifth public health facility in Kenya equipped with the specialised treatment technology.

📻 Breaking It Down

The donation, made by friends and partners affiliated with Johnson & Johnson’s Europe, Middle East and Africa Strategy and Operations Team through the Kenya Mental Health Programme, is expected to improve access to specialised treatment for patients who previously had to travel to Nakuru City for the service.

The machine was handed over during this year’s national World Mental Health Day celebrations held at the hospital, marking a significant milestone in efforts to strengthen mental health services.

Dr Regeru Regeru of Johnson & Johnson said the donation was not part of the programme’s initial budget but was made after partners learnt about the challenges facing the hospital.

📌 What You Need to Know

He said colleagues shared the hospital’s situation with friends abroad, who helped raise funds to acquire the equipment alongside support from the Kenya Mental Health Programme, implemented by the Africa Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF).

“With the help of our friends under J&J, we were able to meet a very specific point of need. The equipment finally landed and we are very happy that patients will benefit from it,” Regeru said.

Gilgil Mental Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr David Kuria said the facility had been transporting patients to Nakuru County Teaching and Referral Hospital for ECT treatment, a process that placed a financial burden on the institution and exposed patients and healthcare workers to safety risks.

“The hospital ferries five to six patients to Nakuru City every Tuesday and Thursday. This is very expensive for the management and also dangerous for both the patients and the personnel in case of an accident along the busy highway,” Kuria said.

He explained that the hospital relied on an ambulance designed to accommodate one patient and a nurse in transporting several patients for treatment.

Kuria said the ambulance lacked passenger seats and seat belts, raising concerns about the safety of patients and staff during the journeys.

📰 Source: Capital FM Kenya