Opening of the Medically Assisted Therapy Clinic(MAT) at Karuri Level Four(4) Hospital by Governor James Nyoro
Kiambu Governor James Nyoro today officially opened the Medically Assisted Therapy Clinic(MAT), at the Karuri Level Four(4) Hospital in Kiambaa Sub-County.
The MAT Clinic was established by Medicine Sans Frontiers -Belgium (MSF) in partnership with the County Government of Kiambu, LVCT health and the National Aids and STIs Programme (NASCOP).
It is a programme that is meant to counter the problem of drug and alcohol abuse in Kiambu County and provides for a holistic approach to tackling the drugs menace. It also offers a one stop-clinic with free healthcare services for people who inject drugs.
There are an estimated 1,300 people who inject drugs in Kiambu County, majority from Kiambaa Sub County. This is the basis for constructing the clinic at Karuri.
The clinic constructed at a cost of Sh50 Million and another Sh415 Million for operations over the next 3 years, aims at reducing morbidity and mortality associated with opioid drug use and incorporates opioid substitution with methadone and outpatient care including services for HIV, TB, mental health, wound care, sexual and reproductive health, non-communicable diseases (NCDs), treatment for Hepatitis C (HCV), social support, and counseling with support for referrals for complicated cases.
By end of February 2020, 145 patients had already been admitted.
