Travel
Hospital With A Heart:
Nairobi, Kenya's Guru Nanak Sikh Hospital
by FELIX OLICK
Tales of hospitals sending away patients who cannot foot their medical bills are galore. In fact, many private hospitals operate on a ‘pay first’ principle despite their high cost of treatment.
But there is a story of hope at the Guru Nanak Sikh Hospital, a private facility located in Kenya in Nairobi’s Ngara area. The hospital has restored hopes of the many otherwise disillusioned patients and given them a reason to smile even in times of sickness.
The hospital is motivated by service to humanity. And it is for this devotion that it continues to receive numerous accolades for their exemplary and quality services.
In 2008, National Hospital Insurance Fund awarded them a certificate as the best faith-based private hospital in the region.
Last week, Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka toured the facility to encourage the doctors and the management to continue with their enviable work.
The inspiring story of Penina Nekesa, who underwent a successful heart surgery at the facility, is their most recent success story.
The story "How Penina got her heart’s desire" was recently highlighted by the local media and touched the hearts of many.
FREE TREATMENTThe 29-year-old was plagued by financial difficulty but was operated at the hospital for free, thanks to collaboration between the Guru Nanak Sikh Hospital and Pan Africa Heart Foundation.
Open-heart surgery is a complicated operation that is expensive even in developed countries. But the hospital has now invested in cutting-edge technology to provide subsidised open-heart surgery and post-operative care that has in the past been a dream in Kenya.
And their investment in state-of-the-art equipment is motivated by the need for effective diagnosis and treatment.
"The heart surgery machine alone cost the hospital Sh4.5 million. We have invested a lot in equipment because it’s the success to effective diagnosis and treatment," said Ravi Kaul, the hospital CEO.
In their 15-year partnership, Guru Nanak Sikh Hospital and the Foundation have brought hope to patients who had given up due to high cost of treatment. The team recently screened 1,500 students from Jamhuri High School in Nairobi. Six of 12 patients identified during the exercise require immediate medical attention.
"Many people die in Kenya from the killer disease because of the high cost of treatment. Our desire is to provide the treatment at a more subsidised cost," says Jaswinder Singh Virdi, the hospital's Chairman.
MEDICAL CAMPSAs part of their social corporate responsibility, the hospital has conducted numerous medical camps to the community around the hospital free of charge. And because of their affordable treatment packages, the number of inpatients and outpatients has increased considerably.
The hospital attends to an average of 130 outpatients daily. It has upgraded its operating theatres and equipment and refurbished its maternity and nursery to be mother and child friendly.
Because of the need for emergency services, they have also invested in well-equipped ambulances.
"We have 55 consultants affiliated with the hospital from all disciplines and seven resident medical officers," said the CEO.
The Guru Nanak Sikh Hospital boss says patients have access to maternity, medical, surgical, gynecological and outpatient services.
The facility, which is fully computerised, is adequately stocked and open 24 hours. They have a general ward, High Dependency Unit and private rooms with a paediatric unit.
The hospital also has casualty, dental, physiotherapy, wellness centre, labour ward, delivery unit and specialised clinics.
[Courtesy: The Standard]
November 15, 2011
Conversation about this article
1: Harinder (Uttar Pradesh, India), November 15, 2011, 9:26 AM.
Keep up the spirit of 'Sarbat da Bhalla' through your noble actions. I am sure Waheguru has kept a place for all of you in sach khand.
2: Gurinder Singh (Stockton, California, U.S.A.), November 15, 2011, 2:40 PM.
This is what Sikhs should be doing everywhere. Sarbat da bhalla! This the reason Sikhs of Kenya are loved and respected by the locals. "Kala Singh" - a common expression used there to refer to Sikhs - harks back to Kala Singh, a trader who used to sell his goods in remote parts of Kenya. He made the Masai Reserve accessible to trade around the early 1900s.
3: Sangat Singh (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia), November 15, 2011, 4:53 PM.
"Vich dunee-aa sayvkamaa-ee-ai taa dargeh baisan paa-ee-ee-ai" [GGS:26.1] - "In the midst of this world, do seva and you shall be given a place of honour in the court of Waheguru." Keyanan Sikhs, you are walking that path.
4: Preet Singh (New South Wales, Australia), November 16, 2011, 12:19 AM.
Amazing article. Guru Nanak Sikh Hospital and it's stakeholders: I heartily offer my congratulations to you all. Keep up this magnificent effort of seva. Guru twaddey saareyyaa(n) uttay sir par hath rakhey attey meher bakhshay!
5: Deljinder Singh Mudher (Nairobi, Kenya), November 16, 2011, 8:21 AM.
Sat Sri Akal ... Dr. Raj Jutley, Cardiac Surgeon, preformed the operation mentioned in the article, with the help of the Pan African Heart Foundation Charity team from the U.K., as free seva.
6: Harpreet Singh (Delhi, India), November 16, 2011, 2:22 PM.
Many thanks and congratulations to the sais Hospital, and all its owners, staff, collaborators, etc. Please keep up such refreshing work. Can this great work be followed by sangats all over the world? In south Delhi there is a historical Gurdwara Bala Sahib, with a large, open land. Kar Seva Baba ji, with the help of sangat, built a big building - 400 rooms - on it a few years ago at a cost of millions of Rupees. But the sad thing is that the hospital has not started yet due to dirty and factional politics, or lack of knowledge/intention on the part of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee. This great building is, due to non-use for such a long time, turning into ruins. It is so painful. Can something be done, like using it in the way the Kenyan Sikhs have done? Some respectable Sikh group like the one doing this great job in Kenya can start the hospital - at a subsidized rate or even free for the poor - with the support of all the factions and sangat. The sangat is "kamdehn". This way Sikhs will be serving Guru Nanak as well as the poor and needy patients.
7: Sarjit Singh Jassal (Perth, Australia), November 18, 2011, 9:01 AM.
Congratulations to the sevadaars at the Guru Nanak Sikh Hospital. May Waheguru bless you all. Seva to humanity is the mainstay of Sikh philosophy! The debacle at Gurdwara Bala Sahib is a sad commentary on us.
8: Raj Virdi (Egham, United Kingdom), November 18, 2011, 9:18 AM.
Amazing seva from our fellow Sikhs in Kenya. Congratulations on creating awareness of cardiac disease and open heart surgery. Keep up the free seva and may Waheguru bless you all.
9: M.K..Rehal (Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada), November 18, 2011, 11:25 AM.
Great to read all of the above comments. Remember that the Guru Nanak Hospital is run by the dedicated Sikhs in Kenya and abroad who do give donations to the facility without any strings attached. Sikhs in East Africa were always taught our Gurus' teachings and emphasis was on community service and not on power and greed which a lot of gurdwaras in other countries, including India, have become famous for!
10: Serwan Kaur Bhogal (Scotland), January 04, 2012, 3:31 PM.
My heartiest congratulations to all the Kenyan Sikhs. Nairobi is a great land in every respect and no wonder it has produced great and noble people. Well done, and may Waheguru bestow His apaar kirpa on all of you always.
11: Harjinder Singh Green (Ireland), March 31, 2014, 9:13 AM.
Do you accept payments from international donors in Kenyan currency?