| With the merits achieved in its 42 years of existence, the Naval hospital is clearly ranked among the best hospitals in the country and the largest military Sick Bay in the Coast Province. Patients are treated at its medical specialist offices with modern infrastructure managed by widely experienced medical and paramedical staff. Its prestige grew with the acquisition of the recompression facility, thus confirming it as the only hospital in the East African region with such facilities. The machine provides consultant services on diving sicknesses. To date four medical officers and one technician are certified, all having served in the Kenya Navy Sick Bay. Major (Dr) Njoka was the first to be trained. About 60 recompression treatments have been given successfully over the last ten years.
With time, the medical and paramedical professional quality of the hospital has become even further known. The achievements and many successes are due to constant innovations and efforts of the Naval senior staff.
The Kenya Navy Sick Bay commenced services in 1965 under the management of Chief Officer Rowing and four Kenyan nurses. And since it was inaugurated it has become one of the main interests of the Navy High Command. The medical services started with the formation of the service partly as an operational requirement and partly as a welfare benefit. While the latter preoccupies most of the manpower, effort and budget, it is the former that forms the basis of existence of the Medical Department in the Navy.
The four nurses who founded this institution were Private Munga, Private Nyanga, Private Oduor and Private Oloo. WOI Musembi, a certified clinical officer was the first Kenyan clinician employed in 1966 at the rank of Sergeant. The initial Sick Bay had a capacity of only six beds. This building today serves as the x-ray room and drug store.
The first medical officer to be employed was Major (Dr) Njoka in 1973. He has since retired and works as a Senior Lecturer in the University of Nairobi 's Department of Physiology. He is also a Consultant Surgeon. Colonel (Dr) Kieti joined the Kenya Navy in 1979 as the second medical officer at the rank of Captain. He is presently the Regional Dermatologist.
The Sick Bay moved to its current location in 1976. The Dental Department was started in 1986 with the employment of Lieutenant Colonel (Dr) Macharia. The dental chair with its accessories was acquired in 1989.
The Naval Sick Bay is presently under the management of a Senior Medical Officer Colonel (Dr) S M Bebora assisted by six medical doctors, three dentists and over 200 paramedical staff. It boasts of twelve beds at the maternity wards, twelve beds at the female wards, six beds at the male wards and three beds for the children's wards. It also has a laboratory, an operating theatre and a dressing room. In addition to the medical equipment, the Sick Bay also has a newly acquired dental unit, a drug store, a dispensary, kitchen, novel laundry equipment and the x-ray department.
The hospital operates on a solid mission to provide curative and preventive medical services to the Kenya Navy personnel. In achieving this mission, back-up military operations are provided as well as covering matters of occupational and environmental health.
To add on the innovative equipment and the highly qualified professionals in different medical specialties, special mention must be made to the numerous roles and tasks that it performs, including provision of public health services and international vaccination facilities.
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