Breaking Ground to Serve More Kids in Kenya
In 1998, AIC-CURE Children’s Hospital of Kenya (CURE Kenya), opened their doors as the country’s first charitable children’s hospital and the first hospital in CURE’s network. Since then, CURE Kenya has performed more than 54,000 life-changing surgeries to help children with treatable conditions walk, run, play, smile, and return to their communities with restored dignity and renewed hope.
But today, the demand for care is growing faster than the hospital can meet it. With an estimated 1 million children in Kenya living with treatable conditions, the need for specialized surgical care has never been greater.
In response to the growing need, CURE Kenya has just broken ground on a new, expanded surgical center. This major step forward will allow the hospital to serve even more children over their next 25 years of ministry—and is part of CURE International’s broader initiative to upgrade and expand surgical facilities across our hospital network.
More Surgical Capacity to Meet a Growing Need
When it’s complete, Kenya’s new surgical center will feature five state-of-the-art operating rooms that enable surgeons to perform up to 4,000 surgeries annually—a 20 percent increase over current capacity.
“The new facility, with larger operating rooms, will also allow us to take on even more complex procedures—like spinal surgeries—that require specialized equipment and longer recovery times,” said Dr. Joseph Theuri, Medical Director at CURE Kenya. “It’s an exciting opportunity to serve children whose conditions were previously too complicated to treat.”
CURE Kenya’s Executive Director, Nelson Muoki, notes that behind every surgery is a child and a family transformed.
“It’s easy to get lost in timelines and blueprints . . . but this project is really about the families who will have their hope restored after many years of not finding help elsewhere,” he said. “We’re looking forward to providing world-class surgical care to even more of Kenya’s vulnerable children.”
Once the new surgical center is complete, the existing center will be converted into a new ward—adding more beds for children who often travel far and wait long for care.
More Space to Train the Next Generation of Christian Surgeons
In addition to providing life-changing care to more children than ever before, the project will create more room to train the next generation of Kenyan surgeons to meet the region’s growing need for surgical care.
That matters in a country where access to pediatric orthopedic care is still limited—and where more highly trained Christian surgeons are urgently needed. There are currently only two specialist surgeons per 100,000 people in the country, compared to 55 in the US. CURE Kenya plays a critical role in filling that gap, equipping residents and fellows with not only surgical skills but also Christ-like compassion.
“Alleviating our current space constraints will help us equip more Christian healthcare professionals who can serve within CURE hospitals and who take surgical care into communities where it’s needed,” Nelson said.
More Children Transformed
In addition to high-quality surgical care, CURE provides intentional ministry care to all of the patients and families we serve. As the surgical center grows, so will the ministry. Along with the expanded medical facilities, the expanded ward and long-term recovery spaces mean more children and families will learn about the life-changing truth of the gospel.
Children like Slinthe.
Slinthe was found by local police on the side of the road, seemingly abandoned and unable to walk due to his clubfoot condition. He was taken to a local orphanage that cared for him and brought him to CURE Kenya, where he received surgery that helped him walk (and eventually run) for the first time. While in the hospital, he also learned about the love of Jesus and a God who chases after us all to give abundant life.
Stories like Slinthe’s are why this expansion matters. Each child represents a life forever changed, and a larger surgical center means thousands more will have that same chance.
“CURE Kenya’s new surgical center will be used to serve more of the children God brings to us every day,” said Justin Narducci, CURE International President and CEO. “We’re grateful for all of the partners whose prayers and support make it possible to expand this important mission.”
Here are three things you can do to support the growing mission at CURE Kenya and beyond:
Learn more about the types of life-changing surgeries CURE Kenya provides.
Become a CURE prayer partner—it’s one of the most powerful ways you can support the children and families we serve.
Make a gift that sponsors transformational surgeries for more children.
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