I went to the same hospital some years back and said never again.
My kid had swollen eyes in the morning so I took her there. The young doctor who examined the kid said this...how are you am afraid we have to admit the kid and the mother,kindly take these forms and start the process.
I ask why.
He tells me the kid has serious heart problem!
We get scared and the mother even more confused!
So an idea comes to my mind and l decide to call my friend late Pro. Mumo [RIP].
He tells me to get out of that hospital and meet him at doctors plaza.
I rush there meet him together with another doctor[Wafula a good doctor for kids,an authority].
This doctor takes less than 10 minutes and tells us to go home in peace!
What a shock,nothing wrong with the kid, No medicine Nothing!
I came to know that these doctors in order to be relevant to this institutions, they must make money by admitting patients and prescribing expensive drugs.
Good doctors just like any profession have their own practice!

Wafula is one in a million.

What about you? Any regrets?

Me, born and raised in Nairobi all my life. Also middle aged. Never spent a day in hospital. Never been sick apart from the common cold. None of my Children have ever been admitted in Hosi. And the first born clocks 20 this year. Its not about where you were raised....

But I am sorry to hear that this is happening in Gertrudes. Never used to be that way when I used to take my Kids there.

ZZE123, I will give you info that is true to my knowledge and hope in addition to more research helps you out. For children under 2, you are not supposed to give any medication when they get the common cold which involves nasal congestion, mild cough, runny nose. What they recommend is having a humidifier in the room esp when the child is sleeping to open up his airways, use nasal drops (saline) to loosen the mucus and then use a bulb syringe to pull out the loose mucus. Some mothers use the traditional wa of extracting by mouth (not hygienic but anything for a child, right? Works wonders though). Run some hot water in the bathroom and hold your child in there when it's steamy and it helps loosen up the mucus. Not sure if a 5 month would be ok with vicks vaporub but it does work like magic when it's rubbed on the chest, back, and feet before sleeping. Before 2 years they do not recommend anything else and the child has to fight it out; It's sad but it's the safest thing to do. After 1, some diluted honey (only after 12 months) with some warm water helps with a cough. For a fever/temp you can use baby tylenol, ask your Pediatrician how much is needed (child can overdose if not careful). Recommended is 1.25ml Q4-6 hours if needed. I would recommend not giving a 3rd dose if fever still there. Take him/her to see the Doc. Unless the child is wheezing, having the worst trouble breathing and not the expected congestion, Ventolin and Prednisone are not solutions. If he's not asthmatic, don't give the child these medication. Good luck.

I rarely agree with impunity but here he has a point.

I am in the medical world and any time; i better go to shugs and take Oleparrmunyo for my flu than buy conventional antihistamines.

Our traditional way of raising our children is far much better than this westernized way.

And am sure by now the complainants baby but have been injected several vaccines - i then ask; do this vaccines help?? I tend to think they may in the contrary lower our immunity instead.

Surely; from 1 month ukianza kudungwa ma shindano; is there any room left for natural immunity to develop?

It is a conspiracy well known world wide to reduce the world's population to 500m people - call me a conspiracy theorist - but that is a fact.

If you dont believe; ask obama and co wakupe certificates of immunization of their children .... Acheni mchezo --- let the children grow naturally!

I take my child to Gertrude's and I can attest that it's the best hospital you can take your kid for consultation as they won't have to guess as much as others who don't just specialise in kids do. Chances are that they've come across most things your kid would be suffering from.

Granted but sometimes the urge to get money for this hospitals out way the moral obligation to alleviate pain in the young ones.

My most memorable was when my 7 months old was diagnosed to be having acute inflammation and needed admitting to monitor in Nairobi hospital. The young fella was teething.

I made thet same mistake once and took my son to getrudes ..... just to discover that the Drs there are just Medical officers- - fresh graduates.


I have never repeated the same again.... so if you think gertrudes is the best for children .... think again.

How many consultants paediatricians are on permanent pay roll by gerties?

Its good to engage the doc to know what is going on and if something feels not right it probably isnt. had the same experience at Gertrude NBI West.... baby had a night cough( She would be fine Mchana but occasionally wake usiku wa manane coz of the cough) so kupimwa, babygal had no fever and chest declared clear. The young Doc diagnoses upper respiratory something....and prescribes Ventolin, benylin and a pain killer syrup( jina nimesahau) when I challenged him about the Ventolin yet he said the chest is clear he said he is prescribing the dawa but I didnt have to give the baby If i didnt want to...... eeh Id expected an antibiotic but Doc said NO coz There was no Infection yet....so went home and bought Kavol. Id poured a few drops on a hunky and hung it near her pillow...n' voila! The Homa/Cough Gone in two or so days.

Today I spent the better part of the day consulting a pediatrician who is well experienced since he looked to be in his late 40’s. He advised me that Predsol is a steroid that helps activate some muscles for Asthmatic people, and Ventoline should never be administered to a child below 3 years even then all other drugs must have failed to work since it affects immunity. He actually did not believe I got the prescription from Gertrude’s for my son and I had to get the drugs so he could see the label is from Gertrude’s. He examined the child and assured me the cough will go away in a few days and no medicine is required for now.