The intensive care unit at Eldoret's Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital is being expanded to cater for more than 28 patients. John Kibosia, the hospital's CEO, yesterday said the hospital has partnered with foreign donors to develop a modern ICU.

"This is part of our plan to expand the facility to make it a fully fledged referral hospital capable of handling all critical medical cases in Western Kenya," said Kibosia.

Kibosia, who was speaking at the hospital, said the number of patients who require intensive care has been increasing. He said the current ICU only admits six patients.

The hospital has been handling medical cases from as far as South Sudan and Uganda. Donors from the Netherlands are negotiating with the hospital to help in the expansion.

Other services and facilities that will be expanded include radiology, plastic surgery, pathology, public health, sports medicine and health management.

Meanwhile, the hospital's deputy director for clinical services Wilson Aruasa has said the facility is ready for the next round of kidney transplants to be carried out in January next year.

Aruasa said the hospital will conduct the kidney transplants in collaboration with the Doctor to Doctor Programme (D2D), a partnership with KLM Health Services.

"We are preparing for the transplants which we hope will help several patients. This will be done in conjunction with local doctors and partner institutions," said Aruasa.

In September, the hospital and D2D signed a three-year memorandum of understanding that will run up to 2015. The hospital has been collaborating with the D2D on several other services. "We are confident that the D2D relationship with us will be successful. We will the programme is sustained," said Aruasa.