Garissa
Garissa County Teaching & Referral Hospital: A Pillar of Healthcare Excellence in Northeastern Kenya
GARISSA – Garissa County Teaching and Referral Hospital (GCRH) has for decades remained resilient in providing quality healthcare services to a diverse and growing population of people in Northern Kenya.
Established in 1967, GCRH has evolved from a small city council facility to a regional healthcare powerhouse.
Today, it is a 300-bed hospital, offering essential services to a catchment population of over 500,000 individuals across Garissa and neighboring counties.
With 82% bed occupancy, the hospital’s services extend beyond Garissa County, reaching communities in Kitui, Tana River, Isiolo, Wajir, and Mandera.
GCRH also plays a critical role in serving the refugee population of Dadaab, providing healthcare to over 355,000 individuals.
A team of doctors combine efforts during an operation at Garissa County Teaching and Referral Hospital on 21 March 2025. Photo/ Nimah Abdi
The facility is a referral center for these counties, supporting a robust network of health services.
GCRH offers a wide range of medical services, including outpatient, inpatient, and specialized care.
The hospital is equipped with a modern diagnostic center featuring CT scans and MRI machines, as well as providing essential services such as oncology, renal care, and intensive care units (ICU).
It also serves as a regional blood transfusion center, ensuring life-saving resources are available for the region.
A significant aspect of GCRH’s healthcare services is its maternity ward, which has 41 beds and 28 incubators, underscoring its commitment to maternal and neonatal health.
Ambulances at the maternity ward of Garissa County Teaching and Referral Hospital on 21 March 2025. Photo/ Nimah Abdi
The hospital is also equipped with a modern mortuary capable of handling 12 bodies, ensuring proper preservation, embalming, and post-mortem services.
Despite its successes, GCRH faces numerous challenges, including insufficient funding and a shortage of healthcare professionals.
These obstacles are compounded by the growing demand for services as the population in the region continues to increase.
Nonetheless, the hospital remains dedicated to overcoming these challenges through strategic planning and innovative solutions.
A key area of growth for GCRH is its upcoming modern eye unit, which, once equipped with the necessary resources and human capital, will provide specialized eye care to the community.
The hospital is working on strengthening its capacity to manage cancer patients through its Regional Cancer Center, a vital resource for people in the region who previously had limited access to such care.
Guided by its vision of becoming a center of excellence in providing accessible, affordable, and socially acceptable healthcare services, GCRH is committed to improving the quality of care for its patients.
Its mission focuses on building a responsive, sustainable, and technologically-driven health system that offers comprehensive care, from promotive and preventive to curative and rehabilitative services.
Apart from North Eastern Region, the hospital also serves the neighboring Counties of Kitui, Tana River Isiolo, wajir and Mandera. Photo/ Nimah Abdi
The hospital’s core values, including efficiency, compassion, inclusivity, professionalism, and innovation, ensure that every patient is treated with the highest standards of care and respect.
These values also extend to the hospital’s workforce, fostering an environment of teamwork and accountability.
As a teaching and referral hospital, GCRH plays a pivotal role in training healthcare professionals, including medical officer interns, nurses, and other healthcare workers.
It provides essential technical support to sub-county hospitals and offers outreach services to communities in need.
Garissa County’s strategic location, with its hot and dry climate, places unique demands on the healthcare system.
However, GCRH remains resilient, adapting to the region’s topography and climate while providing essential health services to the population.
Its commitment to excellence in patient care and its significant role in healthcare delivery make it a critical institution in Northeastern Kenya, serving as both a regional referral center and a center of learning for the next generation of healthcare professionals.
A team of doctors assess a patient after a successful operation at Garissa County Teaching and Referral Hospital on 21 March 2025. Photo/ Nimah Abdi
GCRH continues to expand its services and overcome the challenges it faces, its unwavering commitment to delivering high-quality healthcare remains steadfast.
It aims to ensure that the people of Garissa and its neighboring counties receive the best care possible.
