Tenwek Hospital
Bomet, Kenya
Hospital Website
Mission Organization
Tenwek Hospital was started by World Gospel Mission (WGM), and many of the long-term missionaries serve with WGM. However, Tenwek is also blessed by support of Samaritan's Purse Post-Resident Physicians who serve for 2 years and our partnerships with other organizations such as Faith Aid, Friends of Tenwek, and Pioneers.
Profile
Tenwek is a 400-bed teaching and referral hospital registered as a Faith-Based Health Facility in Kenya and serving over a million people in the vast Southwest region of Kenya and the country at large. In addition, patients come from outside the country, that is, East, Central, and West Africa. Tenwek Hospital is a Christian community that seeks to exemplify Christ in all aspects of what we do and strongly believes that as we treat, Jesus is the ultimate Healer. We provide compassionate healthcare services centered on quality and Christ-mindedness. General wards range from 6 to 17 beds each. Semiprivate rooms with private baths are available. Private isolation rooms, an eye ward, and an orthopedic ward were added in 1997. Six operating rooms along with a recovery room provide facilities for a wide range of surgical services. The maternity unit contains 72 beds, four delivery beds, and two operating rooms. The neonatal nursery cares for infants who are sick or premature. All other infants stay with their mothers. A wound and burn unit opened in 2012, and an eye and dental clinic building opened in 2017. There are 13 ICU beds that are shared between all in-patient services with the exception of cardiac. The Outpatient Department includes maternal child health, surgical, orthopedic, eye, dental, endoscopy, diabetic, HIV, and tuberculosis clinics, in addition to the general outpatient clinic. Laboratory, X-ray, physiotherapy, ultrasound, and a 64 slice Siemens CT scanner provide diagnostic and rehabilitative services. In October 2024, the hospital opened a new cardiothoracic surgical center, a multi-story world class facility with the capacity to handle 2,000 heart cases a year and the largest dedicated cardiothoracic unit in sub-Saharan Africa. The cardiothoracic center (CTC) is a separate campus about a 10-15 minute walk from the main hospital. Here patients can receive specialized cardiac care as well as endoscopy services. The Tenwek Hospital College of Health Sciences started as a nursing school in 1987 and continues to train scores of Kenyan Registered Community Nurses each year. In recent years the school has added training of Clinical officers, Critical Care Nursing, and Perfusion training. Tenwek Hospital has internship training, for both Medical and Clinical Officer interns, and chaplaincy training continues at the Tenwek Hospital International School of Chaplaincy. Family Practice, General Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery, and OB/GYN residents, and Cardiac Surgery fellows are also trained at Tenwek Hospital. The sign at Tenwek's front gate speaks for mission hospitals everywhere by boldly proclaiming to all, “We treat, Jesus heals.”
Travel
Ground transportation from Nairobi is approximately four hours.
Time Difference
+7 hours Daylight Savings Time (EST), U.S.A.; +8 hours Eastern Standard Time (EST), U.S.A.
Location
Tenwek Hospital is located 150 miles northwest of Nairobi and five miles east of Bomet.
People
The largest group of people served by Tenwek Hospital is the Kipsigis whose livelihood is based on an agricultural economy.
Language
Although English and Swahili are the official languages of Kenya, Swahili and local tribal dialects are spoken most of the time. Charts and rounds are written in English.
Religion
Christianity was first brought to Kenya in the 15th century by the Portuguese, and spread rapidly during the nineteenth century, when it experienced a revival. Today, the main Christian denominations in Kenya are Protestant, which make up 45 percent of the country's religious composition. The Roman Catholic Church represents 28 percent of the population. The Sunni path of Islam is the religion of approximately 10 percent of the Kenyan population. The North Eastern Province is predominantly ethnic Somali and Muslim. The Coast Province also has a significant Muslim population.
Climate
Because Tenwek is situated in the highlands at 6,800 feet, the climate is very moderate and pleasant. September–May is the driest and hottest season; June–August is more moderate and cool in the evenings. Temperatures average between 51–70F in the cool season and between 52–79F degrees in the warm season. There are two rainy seasons: March–May and October–December. The average rainfall at Tenwek is 55 inches.
Housing
Many short-term volunteers stay in the guesthouse, while families and long-term volunteers may be housed in a vacant missionary home as available. Room and board charges generally cover food, water, cooking gas, electricity, and upkeep. Those traveling to Tenwek may want to hire household help. This is a national who has been screened by the hospital and is always very helpful with cleaning and light cooking. This is very inexpensive.
Food
Single visitors will usually be on the hospital meal plan. After the first few days, married couples and families normally prepare their own meals. There are grocery stores in Bomet (15 min. by taxi) that sell most staples. There are also a number of shops at Tenwek to buy staples and vegetables. Most processed foods, snacks, and specialty items need to be bought in Nairobi and brought with you to Tenwek.
