MTRH Moves Closer to Regional Training Hub Status After ECSACOG Accreditation Inspection

Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital has advanced its bid to become an accredited training centre for specialist obstetrics and gynecology after hosting a high-level inspection team from the East, Central and Southern Africa College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (ECSACOG).

The inspection, conducted on April 30, 2026, forms part of the hospital’s application to join the regional training network aimed at expanding specialist medical training and addressing the shortage of obstetricians and gynecologists across East, Central, and Southern Africa.

The multidisciplinary assessment team was led by Dr. Nelly Bosire of the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council, alongside Dr. Victor Mwita, Dr. Stella Kanja, and officials from the KMPDC Secretariat. ECSACOG was represented by Dr. Musimbi Soita and Prof. Justus Barigye.

The initiative is part of a broader regional strategy launched by ECSA Ministries of Health in 2017 to strengthen specialist training capacity and improve maternal and newborn health outcomes across the region.

MTRH Chief Executive Officer was represented during the exercise by Dr. Benjamin Tarus, Senior Director for Administration and Finance, while the hospital’s technical coordination was led by Dr. Wycliffe Kosgei, Director of Reproductive Health.

The proposed ECSACOG programme at MTRH is expected to be headed by Dr. Noah Bett as Programme Director, with Dr. Richard Mogeni serving as Deputy Programme Director and Dr. Philippe Poli as Programme Coordinator.

The inspection brought together obstetricians and gynecologists from both MTRH and Moi University, highlighting strong collaboration between clinical services and academic training.

The team toured several key facilities earmarked for resident training, including the Riley Mother and Baby Hospital, covering labour wards, antenatal and postnatal units, emergency services, as well as the newborn unit, operating theatres, laboratories, radiology department, and reproductive health outpatient clinics.

During the debriefing, Dr. Bosire noted that MTRH had met most of the requirements for accreditation, citing strong infrastructure, adequate staffing, and institutional capacity to support a faculty-led training programme.

The inspection team particularly commended the Newborn Unit, describing it as a regional benchmark for quality care, while also recommending further strengthening of emergency response systems to improve patient outcomes.

If approved, the ECSACOG accreditation will add to MTRH’s existing role as a major regional training hub, complementing other ECSA-affiliated programmes such as COSECSA, ECSACOP, COECSA, CANECSA, and COPECSA.

The development is expected to further position MTRH as a leading centre for medical training, research, and specialized healthcare in the region.