Story by Lorraine Anyango and photos by Ondari Ogega Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) is now a level 6A, Category 5 parastatal, a status previously reserved for public universities. This new classification, announced by Principal Secretary Dr. Ouma Oluga during a today’s visit, comes with both great privileges and immense responsibilities. Dr. Oluga’s address underscored a fundamental shift in mindset. “You are no longer a county government hospital,” he stated, urging the management to embrace this new reality. The PS noted that while the transition from a county to a national institution is still in progress on...
September 09, 2025September 9, 2025
From Years of Pain to Healing
Story by Sherine Atieno and Photos by Ondari Ogega For Gilbert Oyoo Aduda, a 67-year-old retired radiographer from Homa Bay, life had become a daily struggle that even the simplest daily tasks had become impossible. “There was excruciating pain at my back whenever I walked for long distances. Even a simple duty like sweeping the house was a big problem,” he recalls. For nearly 15 years, Mr. Aduda endured severe backaches that dictated every part of his life. A familiar face at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching & Referral Hospital (JOOTRH), where he had served as a radiographer until his retirement...
September 08, 2025September 8, 2025
Beyond the Diagnosis: A 14-year old Fights Against a Brain Tumor
Story by Sherine Atieno and Photos by Ondari Ogega At Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching & Referral Hospital’s (JOOTRH) Ward 3, life moves at its usual pace—nurses making their rounds, patients receiving visitors, and children whispering softly to their parents. Amid this seemingly ordinary atmosphere, a quiet story of resilience unfolds. Sitting patiently by her son’s bedside, Agnes Juma from Gem, Siaya, holds onto hope as her 14-year-old boy, Collince Ochiel, prepares for a life-changing neurosurgical procedure during the ongoing neurosurgical camp. For Agnes, the journey has been long and painful. Her son’s struggles began in infancy. At just three months...
September 01, 2025September 2, 2025
Kenya’s First Automated Red Blood Cell Exchange in a Public Hospital
Story by Sherine Atieno and Photos by Ondari Ogega Today marked a historic moment at Victoria Hospital, an annex of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH), where the first-ever automated red blood cell exchange (RBCx) transfusion was successfully performed in a Kenyan public facility. Powered by the newly acquired apheresis machine, this breakthrough promises a brighter future for people living with sickle cell disease (SCD) by reducing painful crises, preventing strokes, and greatly improving quality of life. For some patients, the intervention can mean up to five years without a crisis, offering families a long-awaited relief. The first...
August 29, 2025August 29, 2025
Prof. Khama Rogo Renews Push for Kisumu Comprehensive Cancer Centre
Story by Sherine Atieno and photos by Ondari Ogega Prof. Khama Rogo, founder of Sagam Community Hospital and a leading voice in global health, has renewed calls to fast-track the establishment of a comprehensive cancer centre at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH). Meeting with JOOTRH leadership and the oncology team, Prof. Rogo stressed that cancer remains one of the biggest health burdens in western Kenya, where many patients are diagnosed late and treatment options are limited. Currently, patients rely heavily on chemotherapy—the only available modality at JOOTRH—which has proven inadequate in reducing the region’s high cancer mortalities....
August 27, 2025August 27, 2025
JOOTRH Embarks on ERP Training to Digitize Operations
Story by Sherine Atieno and Photos by Ondari Ogega Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) has commenced training on an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system — a modern software that brings together key functions of an organization such as finance, human resources, procurement, and supply chain into one central platform. By doing so, ERP eliminates duplication of records and provides real-time information, creating a single source of truth that helps organizations run more efficiently and make better decisions. The training officially kicked off today with the ICT Department, who are the first to be trained as they...
August 26, 2025August 26, 2025
Sickle Cell Warrior Leads the Way
Story by Sherine Atieno and Photos by Ondari Ogega At 32 years of age, Michelle Omulo has lived most of her life battling the challenges of sickle cell disease. Diagnosed at the age of three, she has grown into not only a survivor but also a voice of strength and resilience for fellow warriors. A filmmaker by profession, Michelle is also a disability inclusion facilitator with Light for the World attached to Hiva Fund, and a chef who leads two community-based groups—Victoria Youth Empowerment and the West Kenya Sickle Cell Organisation. Her life is a testament to determination, even...
August 21, 2025August 21, 2025
STAFF ASSURED OF SEAMLESS TRANSITION AS JOOTRH WELCOMES NEW LEADERSHIP
Story by Sherine Atieno and Photos by Ondari Ogega The Technical Transition Committee has assured staff of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) that the hospital will undergo a seamless transition from a county facility to a national Level 6 referral and training institution. Committee Chair Mr. James Ntabo explained that the Ministry of Health had appointed a team of professionals from finance, human resources, planning, and administration to oversee the process. He noted that the committee has a six-month timeline to guide the transition, focusing on staff welfare, payroll and human resource integration, as well as the...
August 11, 2025August 11, 2025
Consultants Chart Path to World-Class Patient Care
Story by Dennise Akinyi and photos by Ondari Ogega In continued pursuit of excellent clinical outcomes, consultants at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) held a retreat, a moment for reflection, stocktaking of the past year’s successes and challenges, and exploring ways to further improve clinical services. Under the theme “Strengthening Strategic Synergy for Enhanced Service Delivery,” the discussions focused on aligning with the hospital’s mission to deliver specialized, accessible, responsive, and high-quality medical services through research, innovation, and the core values of care. Senior Director of Clinical Services, Dr. Dedan Ongong’a, who chaired the meeting, emphasized the...
August 09, 2025August 11, 2025
PS Health Calls for Blood Donations, Government Rallies Support After Tragic Kisumu Accident
Story by Lorraine Anyango and Photos by Ondari Ogega PS Health Announces Urgent Blood Drive at JOOTRH, Government Mobilizes Support for Accident Victims and Families Principal Secretary for Health, Dr. Ouma Oluga, today announced an urgent blood drive at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) to support survivors of the tragic road accident that claimed 25 lives along the Kisumu-Kakamega road this evening. The accident involved a school bus carrying members of the Sigoti Clan from Nyakach. Thirty-two individuals from the accident are currently admitted to JOOTRH’s Orthopaedic Trauma Ward, receiving critical care. While checking on the state...