Meru Teaching and Referral Hospital (MeTRH) has achieved a major milestone in specialized healthcare after successfully performing Posterior Sagittal Anorectoplasty (PsARP) and open pyeloplasty procedures at the modern MeTRH KidsOR theatre.
The hospital, currently transitioning from a Level 5 to a Level 6 facility serving Meru, Tharaka-Nithi, Isiolo, Laikipia and Samburu counties, conducted the surgeries through MeTRH pediatric surgeon Dr Simon Munyoki in collaboration with visiting specialist Dr. Francisca Syovata Munyalo from Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH).
Supported by a multidisciplinary team, the two specialists carried out the advanced surgeries locally for the first time, a development expected to reduce costly referrals to Nairobi and ease the financial burden on families.
Dr Munyalo said the success marks a significant boost to MeTRH’s growing capacity in managing complex pediatric cases.
“This milestone reflects our commitment to expanding pediatric surgical services and ensuring that every child receives timely, quality treatment,” he said.
His counterpart, Dr Munyalo, noted that the achievement demonstrates the expanding capabilities of county-level hospitals when properly equipped and staffed.
“These successful surgeries show that children in this region can now receive highly specialized care closer to home, without the pressure of long-distance referrals,”she said.
Hospital leadership says the development aligns with the county’s broader health agenda under Governor Mutuma M’Ethingia, which prioritizes increasing access to specialized and high-quality medical services across Meru.
“Our goal is to build a fully equipped, high-capacity referral center that meets the needs of families across all five counties,” a hospital official noted.
The procedures, fully covered under the Social Health Authority (SHA), come as MeTRH continues upgrading its infrastructure, enhancing medical equipment and strengthening specialist capacity as part of its journey to attaining Level 6 status.
