THE IRISH GOVERNMENT has announced €50,000 in funding for a hospital in Kenya operating a outreach programme for HIV patients in the slums of Nairobi.
The funding is to be given to the Mater Hospital in Nairobi, founded by the Irish Sisters of Mercy, which this year is marking its 50th anniversary.
The hospital also operates a paediatric heart surgery programme which will also benefit from Ireland’s funding.
News of the funding was announced by Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore, who is completing a tour of east Africa this week.
“The Mater Hospital, which was opened by the Sisters of Mercy of Ireland 50 years ago, provides free quality healthcare to the poorest people in Kenya,” Gilmore said.
“This includes heart surgery for children who otherwise would have little hope of living a full life and HIV services to people living in nearby slums.”
The €50,000 will be split evenly between the heart surgery and HIV programmes at the hospital. The HIV programme treats over 3,000 patients in Nairobi each week.
During his visit the Tánaiste met with Sr. Dr. Marian Dolan, an Irish nun who works as a doctor with disadvantaged children in the hospital.
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