True love is a long-lasting flame that burns forever, even in the wake of turbulent wind. Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital is a testament to this powerful gift of love, as its establishment in 1947 was the apex of the romantic tale of Colonel Ewart Grogan – an English explorer, entrepreneur and politician – and his beloved wife, Mrs. Gertrude Edith Grogan.
Ewart’s and Gertrude’s love story began in Cambridge, in a typical love at first sight fashion when Ewart was smitten by Gertrude Edith Watt, a classmate’s sister. Head over heels for her, Ewart pursued Gertrude, only to be rejected by her stepfather. Armed with tenacity and charm, Ewart defied this rejection and proposed a challenge that would prove to Gertrude’s father his worthiness as a suitor. Gertrude’s father accepted the challenge.
Accordingly, Ewart Grogan set out in 1898, at the age of 24, to traverse the entire African continent on foot to prove his love for Gertrude. Two and a half years later, he successfully completed the perilous trek from Cape Town to Cairo. As a result of this enormous achievement, Ewart jubilantly married Gertrude in October 1900, before moving to Kenya in 1904 where their love story continued to blossom in their Muthaiga home which they called Gertrude’s Garden.
Establishment Of Gertrude’s Garden Children’s Hospital
Ewart and Gertrude’s happily ever after was cut short on 6th July 1943 when Gertrude died of a heart attack. Her death devastated not only the Grogan family but also the community she was part of. Gertrude had been an officer of the East Africa Women’s League (EAWL) since 1937 and its president for only six months before her tragic demise.
The timing of Gertrude’s passing coincided with the conclusion of World War II which ushered in an era of reconstruction that saw schools and hospitals being set up. Amid these restoration endeavours, the EAWL felt that there was an opportunity to commit Gertrude to memory. In 1945, as they collected money to finance a cause in her name, Colonel Ewart Grogan donated his house and land in Muthaiga. This generous donation was envisioned to transform his house into a home for children orphaned due to the World War.
Despite this being a noble thought, the EAWL thought of a more impactful way of remembering Mrs. Grogan and settled on establishing Gertrude’s Garden as a Children’s Hospital.
In 1946, organisations pooled together to realise this goal and the EAWL generously raised money to equip the hospital. In 1947, Gertrude’s Garden was officially opened as a hospital.
Championing Inclusive Healthcare
Since its establishment, Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital has been providing paediatric care to children aged 0 to 21, with services including preventive care, accident and emergency, outpatient care, inpatient medical and surgical care, and rehabilitation services.
Additionally, the hospital goes above and beyond to ensure healthcare for all children. Through the Gertrude’s Hospital Foundation established in 2010 by the registered trustees of Gertrude’s Garden, it has partnered with multiple organizations to provide much-needed care to children from less privileged families at no cost.
With a 100-bed capacity in their Muthaiga branch and an additional 20 facilities spread across Nairobi and its environs, the hospital’s prominence is nothing short of substantial. Notably, it holds the distinction of being the oldest paediatric hospital in East Africa as well as being a recognized Level 5 teaching and referral health center.
Now, seventy-five years since its inception, Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital continues to shine as the foremost paediatric healthcare institution. Its enduring legacy is marked by its unwavering dedication to provide medical care to children not only within Kenya but also from neighbouring countries. Through the years, its impact has been profound, leaving an indelible mark on the landscape of paediatric care in the region.
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