The Nairobi City County Government is planning to install a modern Queue Management System in each of its major health facilities to ease congestion and improve service delivery.
The county on Monday penned a deal with UAP Old Mutual Faulu Group Foundation to install the system at the Mama Lucy Hospital in Embakasi.
The system will help handle with ease, the over 1,000 patients seeking medical attention on a daily basis at the busy facility.
According to Mama Lucy Medical Superintendent Dr. Musa Mohamed, the machine will see patients key in their requests in a special vendor machine and consequently given their service ticket numbers.
“This will ensure more patients are attended to and reduce the waiting and patient turnaround time,” said Dr. Musa. The hospital’s management is also planning to add more seats at the waiting bay.
More customer service personnel will also be deployed to help patients who are having difficulties. The new system is similar to the one being used by banks and other financial institutions.
The Chairman of UAP Old Mutual Faulu Group Foundation Dr. Peter Muthoka said the partnership stems from the foundation’s Cooperate Social Responsibility program.
“This is part of our community empowerment programs where health is a major priority and we have found that the sector, despite having undergone tremendous progress, still has room for improvement,” said Muthoka.
Mama Lucy Hospital is the main health facility in Nairobi’s Eastlands that harbours over 60% of the City Population.
Health Executive Mohamed Dagane said that the county will explore further partnership programs to install the queue management system at Mbagathi, Mutuini and other key county hospitals.
“We know that there is an influx of patients in all our facilities and there is no doubt having the system is the way to go,” Dagane said.
He said that the county is also going to hire more nurses and medical personnel to help ease congestion. Mama Lucy Hospital Board Chairman Joe Aketch hailed the move by Old Mutual Faulu Group Foundation to partner with the hospital in order to improve service deliver to Nairobi residents.
“This hospital is one of the biggest county facilities in Nairobi since it serves more than 1,000 people on a daily basis. We need to embrace technology in order to improve service delivery in all our facilities,” added the former City mayor.
Governor Mike Sonko has asked Dagane and board management to fast track the process and extend the same to other health facilities with the county.
“This is what we promised our great people of Nairobi. We should move with speed and ensure that the process is absorbed. Health matters in Nairobi are among several key issues in my heart and blood stream,” Sonko said.
