BethanyKids is a Christian charitable organization dedicated to "providing healing and hope to African children with surgical disabilities". The work of the organization in Africa started in 1998 at "Bethany Crippled Children’s Centre of Kenya", a 30-bed facility located adjacent to Kijabe Hospital. In 2004 the work moved back to Kijabe Hospital, establishing BethanyKids at Kijabe Hospital (BKKH).
Current facilities
BKKH currently has access to 67 beds in 3 locations within KH, a therapy tent, and two operating rooms. The main site is the 33-bed Paediatrics ward which also includes an outpatient clinic area. The neurodisability work is located primarily in an 18-bed "Annex".
Besides the facilities at Kijabe, BethanyKids includes a network of 15 mobile clinics spread across Kenya, where children can be screened for care and also followed up after surgery.
Clinical work
The focus of BethanyKids are children with surgical disabilities. This includes not only "traditional" disabilities such as spina bifida, and hydrocephalus, but the entire spectrum of serious congenital surgical problems in chdlren, which are og=ften not treated in a timely fashion, therefore leading to ongoing diabilities.
The main conditions treated at BKKH include:
neurosurgical: spina bifida, hydrocephalus, encephalocele
neonatal: abdominal wall defects, bowel obstruction
intestinal: anorectal malformations (ARMs), Hirschsprung's disease, bowel obstruction;
urological: hypospadias (misplaced urinary opening), bladder exstrophy, urinary stones
plastic / ENT: cleft lip and palate; neck swellings;
rehabilitation: burn contractures.
Children are accepted for care from across Kenya, and often come even form neighbouring countries. Arrangements can be made for the transport of children from remote areas to Kijabe.
The volume of surgery at BKKH has steadily increased each year, and we now perform over 2,000 surgeries each year. While we encourage all patients to contribute finacially to their care according to their means, we have never turned a child away!
Our staff
BKKH has a dedicated staff of nurses, doctors, therapists, and other staff.
Training
Training in the care of children with surgical disabilities has become the core activity at BKKH. Some of the training programs currently found at BKKH include:
nurse / health care worker training in pediatric rehabilitation surgery;
3-month pediatric surgery rotations for general surgery residents (through PAACS);
2-3 year fellowship in pediatric surgery (through
PAACS and COSECSA);
1-year certificate in pediatric neurosurgery (for neurosurgeons);
1-month rotations in pediatric surgery for Paediatrics residents;
1-3 month elective rotations for residents and medical students form developed countries.
Contact information
For referals and medical concerns: call 020-3246451 or 0733-919546 or email
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For training querries, please contact Dr. Dan Poenaru at
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Children Surgery
