{
  "id": 13946080,
  "title": "Gilgil Mental Hospital Gets ECT Machine to Improve Mental Health Treatment",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/12/gilgil-mental-hospital-gets-ect-machine-to-improve-mental-health",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-10-12T11:31:55.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Capital FM Kenya",
    "slug": "capital-fm-kenya",
    "url": "https://capitalfm.africa/gilgil-mental-hospital-gets-ect-machine-to-improve-mental-health-treatment/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In a significant milestone for mental health services in Kenya, Gilgil Mental Hospital in Nakuru County has been bestowed with an Electro-Convulsive Therapy (ECT) machine. This donation, made by friends and partners associated with Johnson & Johnson’s Europe, Middle East and Africa Strategy and Operations Team, aims to enhance access to specialized treatment for patients who previously required journeys to Nakuru City for the service. The hospital, which has been transporting five to six patients to Nakuru City every Tuesday and Thursday for ECT treatment, will now be able to administer the procedure locally. This will alleviate the financial burden on the hospital and eliminate safety risks associated with dangerous transfers. Dr Regeru Regeru, representing Johnson & Johnson, highlighted that the donation went beyond the initial programme budget, illustrating the critical need for this equipment. The machine is expected to support up to 12 ECT sessions per patient, with each session occurring two to three times per week. This improvement is anticipated to greatly benefit patients, reducing the need for costly and risky hospital transfers. Additionally, the hospital's Medical Superintendent, Dr David Kuria, emphasized the role of healthcare workers in mental health care, stating that training had been provided to identify and manage mental health conditions early. This effort, combined with the training of Community Health Promoters, aims to strengthen the overall mental health infrastructure in Nakuru County. Dr Mercy Karanja, Head of the Division of Mental Health at the Ministry of Health, called for the inclusion of patients and their caregivers in policy decisions, underscoring the importance of lived experiences in shaping mental health services and infrastructure.",
  "summary": "The machine was handed over during this year’s national World Mental Health Day celebrations held at the hospital, marking a significant milestone in efforts to strengthen mental health services.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}