#16
GERTRUDE’S HOSPITAL FOUNDATION
Transforming Children’s Lives Through Innovation, Partnerships and Equitable Healthcare
Every child deserves the opportunity to live a healthy life, regardless of where they are born or their family’s ability to pay for healthcare.
Gertrude’s Hospital Foundation (GHF) is the philanthropic and community impact arm of Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital, dedicated to expanding access to specialist paediatric healthcare for vulnerable children across Kenya and the East African region. Through strategic partnerships, philanthropy, innovation and evidence driven programming, the Foundation strengthens health systems by improving access to specialist care, investing in workforce development, advancing digital health and supporting sustainable models of healthcare delivery. Guided by its vision of Healthy Children. Transformed Communities. A Better World, GHF is working towards improving the lives of vulnerable children through equitable access to quality healthcare. The Foundation implements various programs as follows:
Daktari Smart Telemedicine Programme
For many children living in remote communities, distance remains one of the greatest barriers to specialist healthcare. The Daktari Smart Telemedicine Programme is overcoming this challenge by connecting county health facilities to paediatric specialists at Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital through advanced digital health technology.
Using a hub and spoke model, frontline clinicians conduct consultations with specialists in real time, enabling accurate diagnosis and treatment closer to home while reducing unnecessary referrals, travel costs and delays in care. Beyond patient consultations, the programme strengthens county health systems by training healthcare workers and Community Health Promoters, integrating telemedicine into routine service delivery and generating evidence to inform national digital health policy.
The Daktari Smart has delivered more than 30,000 specialist consultations, trained over 560 healthcare workers and 719 Community Health Promoters, and established telemedicine services across six counties (Homabay, Lamu, Samburu, Baringo and Narok). The programme is now expanding into 5 additional underserved counties (Makueni, Turkana, Kwale, Vihiga and Laikipia) through a sustainable model that integrates telemedicine into county health systems and health financing mechanisms, creating a scalable pathway towards Universal Health Coverage.
Kenya Childhood Cancer Programme
Childhood cancer is one of Kenya’s most pressing child health challenges, with an estimated 3,000 children diagnosed annually, yet survival remains significantly lower than in high income countries due to delayed diagnosis, limited specialist capacity and barriers to accessing affordable treatment.
Established in 2019, the Kenya Childhood Cancer Programme is improving survival by strengthening every stage of the care pathway, from early detection and referral to diagnosis, treatment and comprehensive patient support. Implemented through a partnership between Gertrude’s Hospital Foundation and Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital, the programme combines financial assistance for vulnerable children with healthcare worker training, public awareness and the development of a stronger national referral system.
Since inception, the programme has supported more than 277 children to access life-saving diagnosis and treatment, trained over 200 frontline healthcare workers to recognize the early warning signs of childhood cancer, and mobilized funds flagship fundraising initiatives including the Gertrude’s Annual Family Cancer Walk and Charity Golf Tournament.
By combining patient support with investments in health systems, workforce capacity and sustainable financing, the programme is helping transform childhood cancer care and giving more children the opportunity to survive and thrive.
Paediatric Cardiac Programme
Congenital heart disease remains a leading cause of preventable childhood mortality in Kenya. The Paediatric Cardiac Programme expands access to life-saving diagnosis, surgery and post-operative care for vulnerable children while strengthening Kenya’s capacity to deliver highly specialised cardiac services locally.
Working with clinical experts, donors and strategic partners, the programme supports early diagnosis, complex cardiac surgery and long-term follow-up care, reducing dependence on treatment abroad while building sustainable national expertise. More than 210 children have benefited from life-saving open-heart surgery through the programme, restoring health and creating brighter futures for children and their families.
Paediatric Workforce Development
Strong health systems require a skilled healthcare workforce. Through support from ELMA Philanthropies, Gertrude’s Hospital Foundation is strengthening paediatric healthcare by investing in specialist nursing education in paediatric, critical care and oncology nursing.
More than 205 nurses have completed advanced specialist training, equipping them with the expertise to provide high-quality care for critically ill children while strengthening healthcare delivery across Kenya and the region. By investing in people, the programme creates a lasting multiplier effect, improving the quality of care for thousands of children over many years.
Creating Lasting Impact
Across every programme, Gertrude’s Hospital Foundation is driven by a commitment to build stronger health systems that deliver equitable, high-quality healthcare for every child. Through innovation, strategic partnerships and evidence-based programming, the Foundation is improving access to specialist care, strengthening healthcare capacity and developing sustainable solutions that will continue transforming children’s lives for generations to come.
