by Sherine Atieno and Ogega Ondari. Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH), one of the pioneering sites for the global Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS) program, held an insightful discussion with CHAMPS leadership to map out the next phase of the project. CHAMPS is a global network dedicated to reducing stillbirths and child mortality by providing accurate data on the causes of death.
JOOTRH CEO Dr. Richard Lesiyampe lauded the program’s transformative impact on the hospital, highlighting improved quality of care, a well-functioning referral system, and strong acceptance of Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (MPDSR). He noted that JOOTRH has become a reference site, with other facilities learning from its success.
Dr. Lesiyampe further recognized CHAMPS for its critical role in managing maternal complications like preeclampsia and eclampsia, and expressed his ambition to build more laboratory capacity in the upcoming phase.
Cynthia Whitney, Executive Director of the CHAMPS Global Institute, emphasized the importance of community partnerships and scientific rigor. She celebrated the progress made over the past ten years and outlined the vision for the next five — including sustainability, advancing diagnostic capabilities, and strengthening work in pathology.
She recognised the hospital’s leadership in implementing Continuing Medical Education (CMEs), embracing Data to Action, and owning interventions such as the management of sickle cell disease and hypertensive disorders in pregnancy.
A decade ago, postmortems were often resisted by both families and doctors. Today, thanks to CHAMPS, families seek answers, clinicians value data, and health outcomes are improving. As Africa CDC and other partners look deeper into mortality causes, JOOTRH is poised to remain a catalyst for change — driven by data, collaboration, and commitment.
