Handover of HTC Rooms at Ruiru Sub-District Hospital

On March 8, 2016, CHS officially handed over two newly completed HIV Testing and Counselling (HTC) rooms at Ruiru Sub-County Hospital.

Created out of necessity to provide space for HIV counselling and testing and thus improve the quality of services and increase the number of people tested, the rooms were officially handed over by CHS Administration and Finance Director, Mr George Odondi, to the Hospital In-Charge, Dr Jesse Ngugi. Others present during the handover were the Hospital Administrator Mr Mukabi Kimunya, Hospital Nursing Services Manager, Ms Nancy Ndungu, CHS Operations Manager, Mr Samson Koross and CHS Program Officer, Angeline Muia.

Speaking during the handover, Dr Ngugi thanked CHS for its commitment towards providing support for HIV care and particularly to the facility over the last five years. According to Dr Ngugi, Ruiru Sub-County Hospital has enjoyed a fruitful relationship with CHS and this can be evidenced by CHS’s high-level investment at the Hospital.

“The rooms will be of great use to us, particularly at a time when there are limited resources to address the ever growing needs at this hospital,” said Dr Ngugi. This was echoed by Mr Mukabi who noted that CHS is one of the greatest partners that the Hospital has been privileged to work with.

Ms Ndungu noted that the HTC Department was previously challenged in terms of space and client privacy, which often thwarted HTC efforts. The staff also felt alienated, given that they had to work in an environment that was not conducive. At one point, HIV testing and counselling was conducted along a corridor, with screens acting as the only cover for occupants and at one time, on a makeshift tent placed on the hospital compound. “These rooms are expected to enhance the experience of both clients and staff and hence promote HTC uptake,” noted Ms Ndungu.

Speaking on behalf of CHS, Mr Koross thanked the Hospital Administration for their continued support and for partnering with CHS in the fight and management of HIV. He noted that the two rooms would play an important role in promoting the quality of HIV care, address challenges faced before. Mr Koross also called for continued collaboration between Ruiru Sub-County Hospital and CHS.

The new HTC rooms represent additional infrastructural investment by CHS, through funding from CDC, having created three rooms to serve as the Hospital’s comprehensive care centre (CCC) in 2014. CHS has also provided infrastructure support, including furniture for the new CCC and human resource support to Ruiru Sub-County Hospital.

CHS supports five counties in Central Kenya to offer quality health, with infrastructure support being one of the major investments. To date, Ksh. 56,642,824 has been spent on repairs to various comprehensive care centres in the region.