Nairobi Hospital hosts golf tourney for heart patients
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The Nairobi Hospital hosted the 2026 Children’s Charity Heart Fund Golf Tournament at the Karen Country Club, bringing together corporate partners, healthcare leaders, philanthropists, and sports enthusiasts to mobilize resources for pediatric cardiac care.
The high-profile charity event, which serves as one of the hospital’s flagship community intervention programs, aims to raise crucial funds to support children from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds who are suffering from complex heart ailments.
According to medical experts, thousands of children across the country are diagnosed with both congenital and acquired heart diseases annually, yet many families are unable to afford the exorbitant costs associated with specialized cardiac procedures, diagnostic testing, and prolonged hospitalization.
Speaking during the event, the Chief Executive Officer of The Nairobi Hospital, Felix Osano, underscored the severe plight faced by families seeking specialized cardiac treatment for their children, noting that time and financial constraints remained the biggest obstacles to saving young lives.
“Every child who comes to us for heart surgery has usually run out of time and money before they reach our door. This tournament exists to close that gap. Every fee, sponsorship and prize contributed today converts directly into theatre time, diagnostics and the specialist care these children need, and we are grateful to every partner who keeps showing up for them,” said Osano.
The Chief Executive Officer emphasized that the Children’s Charity Heart Fund was established to bridge the stark divide in healthcare equity by leveraging strategic corporate partnerships, public goodwill, and institutional philanthropy.
He added that funds raised through the annual golf showcase goes directly into funding high-end surgical operations, post-operative intensive care, and diagnostic assessments for patients who would otherwise have no recourse.
Over the years, the charity initiative has transformed the lives of hundreds of families across the region.
Hospital records indicate that through the persistent support of corporate donors, individual well-wishers, volunteers, and participating golfers, the fund has successfully financed free, life-saving heart operations for more than 400 vulnerable children who suffered from life-threatening cardiac conditions.
Dr. Barcley Onyambu, Chairman of the Board of Management of the Kenya Hospital Association, the governing body of The Nairobi Hospital, reaffirmed the institution’s unwavering commitment to corporate social responsibility and patient-centered clinical care.
“A hospital is measured by how it treats those least able to pay, and the Children’s Charity Heart Fund is where that principle is tested every year. On behalf of the Board of Management, I thank every sponsor and partner who treats this tournament as a standing commitment, not a single evening of goodwill,” stated Dr. Onyambu.
He noted that healthcare institutions have a fundamental obligation to extend medical relief to marginalized populations, adding that the sustained success of the charity golf tournament demonstrates the power of collaborative efforts between healthcare providers and private sector stakeholders.
The event provided an interactive platform for healthcare administrators, corporate executives, and policymakers to deliberate on the role of strategic philanthropy and private sector involvement in achieving universal health coverage.
The hospital management reiterated their intent to continue expanding specialized pediatric cardiac capacity, improving patient outcomes, and widening the safety net for underprivileged children living with cardiovascular diseases.
They affirmed that events such as the Children’s Charity Heart Fund Golf Tournament remain central totheir broader institutional vision of fostering equitable access to specialized medical treatment, building community resilience, and transforming healthcare delivery through sustainable partnerships.
Organizers expressed optimism that the proceeds from the 2026 edition will significantly reduce the backlog of pediatric patients currently awaiting critical cardiac surgeries at the facility, granting dozens more vulnerable children a second chance at a healthy life.
By Lilian Gichohi
Reporting originally appeared via Kenya News Agency. Read the full source for additional context.