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PCEA Chogoria Hospital

Kenya

Overview

Chogoria Hospital is situated in the Tharaka-Nithi District of Kenya’s Eastern Province, 200 kilometers northeast of Nairobi on the eastern slopes of Mount Kenya – the highest mountain in Kenya. Chogoria is a paradox of beauty and hardship. The town is surrounded by rolling hills, tea fields, and coffee plantations. The townspeople of Chogoria consists mostly of subsistence farmers who depend on their crop harvests for the livelihood of their families.

Founded in 1922, the hospital is owned by the Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA) to provide quality, affordable, comprehensive health care services and training of health professionals to the glory of God. The hospital has four wards: medical, surgery/orthopedics, pediatric and maternity, plus an established Community Health Department with very active TB, HIV, and palliative care services. Chogoria Hospital is home to two physician residency programs, one in family medicine and another in general surgery.

Location

Chogoria Hospital is situated in the Tharaka-Nithi District of Kenya’s Eastern Province, 200 kilometers northeast of Nairobi on the eastern slopes of Mount Kenya – the highest mountain in Kenya and, after Mount Kilimanjaro, the second-highest mountain in Africa. The town of Chogoria is located near the edge of Mount Kenya National Park.

At an elevation of 5,000 feet, the climate is pleasant and temperate. There are rains from March to May, warm weather in June, cool and dull weather in July and August, and warm weather in September and October. Rains occur again October to December (with daytime temperatures in the 80s and nighttime temperatures in the 50s), and the hottest period of the year in January and February. August is the coolest month, and warm clothes are needed in the evenings.

Chogoria is a paradox of beauty and hardship. The town is surrounded by rolling hills, tea fields, and coffee plantations. The townspeople of Chogoria consists mostly of subsistence farmers who depend on their crop harvests for the livelihood of their families. The area is populated by the Meru and Tharaka peoples, both separate groups with their own dialects and customs.

The common religious beliefs in the area are Christian, Muslim, traditional African beliefs, and moralism. Spiritual warfare is real and active in the lives of people living in this region, including addictions, a health-wealth ideology, and domestic abuse. Shame, hopelessness. and attempted suicide are common among the young people that come through the doors of Chogoria Hospital.

Become more familiar with culture, history and economy by reviewing the Kenya Wikipedia Profile. Rich resources for health information include the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation IHME Country Profile and the World Health Organization’s Humanitarian Data Exchange for Kenya.

The Meru and Tharaka peoples speak Kimeru and Kitharaka, respectively. Both English and Swahili are widely used throughout Kenya. All healthcare professionals speak English, and records are written in English Interpreters may be available for visiting learners and volunteers.

Founded in 1922, the hospital is owned by the Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA). Chogoria Hospital is a not-for-profit faith-based organization that provides quality health care services and training. It is registered under the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentist Board Act, and adheres to the statutory regulations of the health sector regulatory bodies. The hospital mission statement is: To provide quality, affordable, comprehensive health care services and training of health professionals to the glory of God.

The hospital has a capacity of 295 beds and offers curative, preventive and promotive health care services. It is the main referral hospital for Eastern region with a catchment of 450,000 people covering Embu, Tharaka Nithi, Meru, Isiolo and Marsabit counties. Roughly 50% of these people are under 15 years of age. The area around the hospital is well served with public transportation, electricity, water, mobile network and other communication infrastructure.

The hospital has four wards: medical, surgery/orthopedics, pediatric and maternity. There is also a nursery, an intensive care unit, a 14-bed private ward, four-bed casualty (emergency) department, an eye unit, a physiotherapy department, a laboratory, a pharmacy, and a modern four-room dental building. Radiology support includes plain films, ultrasound, and CT. Chogoria also has an established Community Health Department and very active TB, HIV, and palliative care services.

Healthcare Services Provided:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Dentistry & Maxillofacial Surgery
  • Dermatology
  • Emergency/Disaster Medicine
  • Infectious & Tropical Diseases
  • Internal Medicine
  • Maternal–Fetal Medicine
  • Neonatology and Perinatology
  • Nephrology
  • Nutrition
  • Otolaryngology
  • Palliative Medicine
  • Pediatrics
  • Pediatrics
  • Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
  • Radiology & Nuclear Medicine
  • Surgery
  • Women’s Health, Obstetrics & Gynecology

On-Site Medical Services and Capabilities:

  • Operating Room
  • Emergency Room
  • Pharmacy
  • Residency Training
  • Intensive Care Unit
  • Advanced Imaging
  • Lab Medicine

The Chuka Medical Centre is a satellite clinic of Chogoria Hospital that serves the 20,000 people in Chuka town with clinical, laboratory and pharmacy services.

Infectious diseases predominate. Hypertension, diabetes, pneumonia, and asthma are also frequent. Gastric and esophageal cancers are the most common malignancies. Trauma is a perennial reason for admissions due to traffic accidents. Malaria is present in nearby areas, though uncommonly acquired at Chogoria itself. Gastroenteritis is also a problem in dry seasons due to a lack of reliable drinking water. HIV has been gradually increasing since 1987. Tuberculosis is common (50% of cases being HIV related).

Chogoria Hospital provides 250–300 outpatient consultations on any given day, with a yearly total of 80,000. Roughly 1000 babies are delivered each year.

Chogoria staff are a multi-ethnic, multi-organizational, and multinational team that shares the common goals of quality patient care and training future healthcare professionals. They include family physicians, pediatricians, obstetricians, surgeons, nephrologists, and orthopedists. Most common nationalities are Kenyan and American.

Wifi is available. One can also buy a cell phone with the Kenyan phone number and/or buy a Sim card for data. WhatsApp is commonly used for communication.

INMED invites all participants to consider raising extra funds to financially support this facility. While such efforts are not required, they provide opportunity for INMED learners to become involved in this important aspect of international healthcare.

PCEA Chogoria Hospital Website 

Clive Irvine College of Nursing

Chogoria Hospital amputee care

Chogoria Hospital on Facebook

Chogoria Hospital on Samaritan’s Purse

Travel and Logistics

Visitors fly into Nairobi International Airport. From there, the drive to Chogoria requires 3–4 hours.

For current information, please visit the Kenyan Embassy website appropriate for your country. United States citizens may visit the website for the Kenyan Embassy in the USA . United States citizens, and those of some other nations, must receive in advance an Electronic Travel Authorization at https://etakenya.go.ke/

Travelers should consult with a personal physician before traveling. All routine vaccinations must be up to date. Refer to the CDC travel website for the most up-to-date health information.

 

Travelers are advised to refer to the United States State Department website for the most up-to-date general travel information, and to regularly view current travel advisories.

PCEA Chogoria Hospital Is an institution of higher education, home to several formal health professions training programs. Learners from the outside enjoy the advantages of stepping into these well-developed and long-existing educational opportunities.

Kenyan resident physicians, as well as interns, study medicine at Chogoria to acquire the experience, training, and discipleship they need to serve through the ministry of healing. This allows them to meet the physical and spiritual needs of patients as they minister at Chogoria and as they return to their communities across Kenya and East Africa.

The Chogoria Family Medicine Residency program began in 2016 and functions in partnership with Kabarak University, to train East African medical professionals beyond medical school. The residency is four years long and has a strong focus on public health, research, and population health management. Upon completion of the program, these resident physicians are awarded a master’s degree from Kabarak University.

The College of Surgeons of East, Central and Southern Africa (COSECSA) also has a four-year surgery residency program at Chogoria. Today, there are only 2 surgeons per 100,000 people in Kenya, and surgical training programs like Chogoria are an important investment in the health of future generations.

Clive Irvine College of Health Sciences was established in 1951 and has trained many globally competitive and competent nurses. The college is recognized as a middle level college by the Ministry of Education and is accredited by the Nursing Council of Kenya and by the Technical and Vocation Education and Training Authority (TVETA).

Housing is available at the guest house, or one of the houses or apartments on the hospital compound with facilities for self-catering. The guest house has four rooms which can accommodate 1–3 people each. Two washrooms with showers and hot water are down the hall. Meals can be provided for a modest fee. Outside the guest house, most housing consists of a living room, kitchen, bathroom, and 2–3 bedrooms. Generally, the housing also has running water, refrigeration, electricity, and both gas and electric cooking facilities. Domestic help is easily obtained for laundry, etc.

The hospital does not provide meals. However, the guest house attendant prepares breakfast and supper meals during the week (Monday–Friday) at the guest house for a small fee. The kitchen is available at other times for volunteers to prepare their own meals. Basic food availability is limited but adequate and includes potatoes, rice, meat, bread, margarine, eggs, fruit, and vegetables. Butter, cheese, bacon, and sausage are not available locally, as no shops have refrigerators. There is a market across the street where staple necessities can be bought. More specialized items can be purchased in Nairobi or in Meru (a 45-minute drive).

As a Christian facility, prayer is coming here. Smoking and drinking alcohol are prohibited. Business casual attire is recommended. Women should dress for hospital work like they would in North America, and pants are acceptable. Short sleeves are also acceptable, but long sleeves are more proper. A dress is appropriate for church. Men rarely ever wear ties. Neither men nor women should ever wear short pants, except at the beach.

Local activities include visits to the Meru House, the Meru Museum, and to nearby Mount Kenya. Also consider LonelyPlanet attractions in Kenya.

Learners should bring copies of all healthcare profession licenses, diplomas, or certifications. A carry-on bag should be packed that contains essentials items just in case one’s luggage becomes lost. Bring clothes appropriate for the weather.

Note: Not all INMED learners post a blog regarding their international service-learning. Only completed blogs are listed:

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