Story by Sherine Atieno and photos by Ondari Ogega The Principal Secretary for the State Department for Children Services, Ms. Carren Agengo, has assured the people of Nyakach of the national government’s unwavering support following Friday’s tragic road accident at the Coptic roundabout on the Kisumu–Kakamega highway that claimed 26 lives and left many injured. Speaking during a briefing at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH), PS Agengo conveyed condolences to the bereaved families and emphasised the government’s immediate priority—providing psychosocial support to survivors and those mourning their loved ones. She said the State Department for Children Services...
August 09, 2025August 9, 2025
Surgeries Underway for Survivors of Kisumu Accident as Death Toll Rises
Story by Lorraine Anyango and photos by Ondari Ogega The death toll from Friday’s tragic accident at the Coptic roundabout on the Kisumu-Kakamega highway has risen to 26 after one of the critically injured patients succumbed to their injuries at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH). In the wake of the tragedy, medical teams across Kisumu County have mobilized to perform urgent surgeries on 26 survivors. The operating theaters at JOOTRH and other local health facilities are expected to be busy until midnight. Dr. Ouma Oluga, Principal Secretary for Medical Services, announced that all the survivors are now...
August 09, 2025August 9, 2025
Selfless Hands, Grateful Hearts
By Sherine Atieno “I was among the emergency response team on the ground to ensure stretchers were availed on time to help save lives of survivors of Friday’s tragic road accident that happened at Coptic roundabout along the Kisumu–Kakamega road. Little did I know…,” These are words of Mr. David Odhiambo, an Information Communication Technology (ICT) Officer at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH). Though his role at the hospital has nothing to do with clinical care, David sprang into action the moment he learned of the accident, determined to help where he could. What he did not...
August 07, 2025August 7, 2025
Mental Health Program for Adolescent Expectant Mothers
By Brand Omega New initiative aims to support young mothers through pregnancy and beyond Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) has launched a mental health awareness program targeting adolescent expectant mothers, in a move aimed at strengthening psychosocial support and improving maternal and newborn outcomes in the western region. The program, which kicked off with its first session today, is tailored to adolescent girls aged between 11 and 25 years, with plans to later narrow the age bracket to 21. According to Mrs. Claire Wekesa, the Nursing Officer in charge of the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) department...
August 06, 2025August 6, 2025
JOOTRH Celebrates World Breastfeeding Week by Educating New Mothers.
Story by Dennise Akinyi and Brand Omega Photos by Ondari Ogega JOOTRH Celebrates World Breastfeeding Week by Educating New Mothers. New mothers at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) received hands-on breastfeeding tips before being discharged. The hospital marked the second day of World Breastfeeding Week with a special session in the maternity ward, where new mothers learned essential techniques to ensure their babies are well-fed and healthy. Rosemary Shikari, a lactation specialist from , Mama Toto ChildBirth and Breastfeeding Educative Services, led the training. She provided in-depth knowledge on various breastfeeding aspects, focusing on proper milk expression,...
August 04, 2025August 4, 2025
Steps closer to 1000 bed-goal
Story by Sherine Atieno and Photos by Ondari Ogega The acquisition of 124 additional beds to boost inpatient capacity marks a major milestone for Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH). With this addition, the hospital’s total capacity has risen from 676 to 800 beds, with plans to scale up to 1,000 beds by December. This expansion is set to ease congestion, eliminate bed sharing, and significantly enhance access to quality healthcare across the region. Driving this growth is a soon-to-open orthopaedic trauma ward, now fitted with 120 beds. An adjacent High Dependency Unit (HDU) and specialized Burns Unit...
July 30, 2025July 30, 2025
Prioritizing People in Progress: JOOTRH Elevates Research Ethics with NACOSTI Partnership
Story by Lorraine Anyango and Dennise Akinyi Photos by Ondari Ogega At Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH), our commitment to advancing healthcare through research goes hand-in-hand with an unwavering dedication to ethical responsibility. We were incredibly proud to recently host a comprehensive research ethics training, expertly led by the National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI), right here in Kisumu. This vital training was designed to empower our researchers with the essential knowledge and tools needed to navigate the complex balance between scientific innovation and the paramount importance of protecting human dignity, rights, and freedoms in...
July 23, 2025July 23, 2025
Advanced Equipment Boosts Eye Care Services at JOOTRH
Story by Sherine Atieno and Photos by Benard Ondari Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) has received a major boost in its eye care capacity following the donation of modern ophthalmic equipment from the Fred Hollows Foundation (FHF). The donation includes top-tier surgical and diagnostic tools aimed at advancing specialized eye care and training at the hospital. The equipment handed over includes the Zeiss OPMI Lumera 300 microscope, a world-class surgical microscope designed for advanced retinal and paediatric ophthalmic procedures. Its apochromatic optics, LED illumination, and integrated video capabilities also make it a valuable tool for training medical...
July 22, 2025July 22, 2025
Proximie Digital Surgery Platform: A New Era of Smart Theatres
Story by Sherine Atieno and Dennise Akinyi Photos by Ondari Ogega Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) has joined the global movement in digitized surgical care through the adoption of the Proximie platform—a cutting-edge telemedicine technology that allows live surgical procedures to be transmitted in real time for remote support and learning. Speaking during the initial training session held in Theatre 4, Consultant General Surgeon and Vice President of the Surgical Society of Kenya (SSK), Dr. Ceasar Bitta, lauded the innovation as a transformative step in both surgical education and patient care. “Proximie is not just video....
July 22, 2025July 22, 2025
Addressing the Critical Care Gap: A Lifeline for Children in Nyanza
Story by Lorraine Anyango Photos by Ondari Ogega The Nyanza region faces a severe shortage of critical care services for children, with no dedicated Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) in the entire area, putting countless young lives at risk. Obama Children’s Hospital, the primary referral facility in the Nyanza region, highlights the urgent need. A staggering 60% of children admitted to Obama Children’s Hospital are inpatients, and among them, 20% to 40% require intensive care. The situation is further compounded by the high prevalence of sickle cell disease in the region, particularly in Kisumu, where it accounts for approximately 32%...