Story by Lorraine Anyango and Photos by Ondari Ogega Malnutrition is a silent but primary driver of child mortality, contributing to an estimated 50% of all child deaths. A New- research from the Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS) network has revealed a deepening health crisis where nutritional deficiencies are claiming the lives of the most vulnerable populations in Kenya and Ethiopia. The findings, presented during a recent ARM-CHAMPS meeting, which also included a courtesy call to Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital where CHAMPS has been working with an aim of reducing child mortality. CHAMPS has been...
New Research Sheds Light on Maternal and Newborn Health Risks in Kenya.
Story by Lorraine Anyango and Photos by Ondari Ogega A global research initiative is providing a clearer picture of the health challenges facing mothers and infants in Western Kenya. The Pregnancy Risk, Infant Surveillance, and Measurement Alliance (PRISMA) study, a collaborative effort involving the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) and George Washington University, recently shared interim findings aimed at improving maternal and neonatal outcomes. The study, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, followed more than 2,700 women in Siaya and Kisumu Counties. Researchers tracked participants from early pregnancy—specifically before 20 weeks gestation—through one year after delivery to identify...
German Ambassador visits JOOTRH
Story by Lorraine Anyango and Photos by Ondari Ogega The German Ambassador to Kenya, Mr. Sebastian Groth, today visited the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) to mark the successful implementation of the Green Room Air Conditioning (GRACE) project. The initiative, spearheaded by GIZ Proklima in collaboration with the National Ozone Unit (NOU), aims to revolutionize cooling technologies in Kenya by transitioning to environmentally friendly and energy-efficient systems. As part of the demonstration phase, JOOTRH received nine “Green AC” units. These advanced systems utilize the R290 natural refrigerant, which is noted for its minimal impact on the ozone...
Fistula Camp Restores Hope for Young Mother at JOOTRH.
Story by Lorraine Faith and Photos by Ondari Ogega For a 16-year-old Mary Atieno (not her real name), life changed unexpectedly after the birth of her child on 15 February 2025. What should have been a joyful season quickly turned into months of physical discomfort, emotional distress, and social isolation. Five days after being discharged from hospital following delivery, Mary began experiencing abnormal symptoms. She found herself unable to control the passage of urine and stool. At times, even gas would pass uncontrollably through her vagina, a condition that left her confused, embarrassed, and deeply distressed. “I could not move...
Surging Preeclampsia Cases on the rise.
Story by Lorraine Anyango and Photos by Ondari Ogega Medical experts at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) have raised the red flag over a sharp increase in life-threatening pregnancy complications, specifically preeclampsia and eclampsia, over the last 12 months. Statistics from the regional referral hub reveal a worrying trend: out of every 300 births, approximately 30 women now present with high blood pressure complications. This is a staggering fourfold increase from previous records, which averaged only seven cases per 300 births. Rosebella Apollo, the Deputy Director of Nursing and Maternity Nurse Manager, noted that the clinical...
JOOTRH Unveils Advanced Medical Equipment to Strengthen Specialised Care
Story by Sherine Atieno and Photos by Ondari Ogega The Chief Executive Officer of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) Dr. Joshua Clinton Okise unveiled five hemodiafiltration (HDF) machines in the Renal Unit, bringing the total number of dialysis machines to 13 and significantly enhancing capacity for advanced kidney care. The new units are set to improve treatment outcomes through superior toxin removal and increased session efficiency. Other machines unveiled include a fully automated blood screening analyser as well as the Orthopantomogram (OPG) dental X-ray machine. At the Renal Unit, the newly acquired hemodiafiltration (HDF) machines are designed...
Turning Pain into Hope
Story by Sherine Atieno and Photos by Ondari Ogega After years of discomfort and uncertainty following childbirth, 27-year-old Sela Awiti Oginga now looks ahead with renewed confidence and dignity. Thanks to corrective surgery received during the ongoing free fistula camp at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH), the young mother says she is finally on the path to healing. Ms. Awiti, a resident of Nubian Estate and a mother of one, delivered her first child three years ago. While the birth itself brought joy, complications that followed left her struggling with a condition she had never anticipated. “I...
Restored Dignity
Story by Sherine Atieno and Photos by Ondari Ogega In February 2012, Leah Atieno’s life changed in ways she never imagined. The businesswoman from Airport estate in Kisumu developed obstetric fistula following childbirth, three months after delivering her lastborn child, who weighed 4.2 kilograms. What followed was more than a medical condition; it was a loss of dignity, confidence, and social belonging. The urine and stool were leaking uncontrollably through the fistula, leaving her constantly wet and uncomfortable. The condition made even the simplest daily interactions unbearable. Ashamed and fearful of the smell, she withdrew from customers and eventually stopped...
“I’m Ready to Get Back on My Feet”
Story by Sherine Atieno and Photos by Lorraine Faith “I didn’t expect to feel this normal again,” says Mr. David Ochieng, his voice steady but reflective as he rests in the surgical ward at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH). “I’m ready to get back on my feet.” For eight years, David lived with a spine injury sustained during a freak accident while on a fishing expedition. The pain had been intermittent, manageable at times, until late last year when it intensified sharply. By 1st of January 2026, he was completely immobile. He could not walk, sit, or...
A Mother’s Vigil
Story by Sherine Atieno and Photos by Lorraine Faith Two-year-old Shantel Adega lies quietly in Ward 3B at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH), recovering from a delicate brain surgery that was successful. Her tiny hands rest against the hospital sheets as her mother, Mildred Luvanga, keeps a steady watch by her side. Every slight movement, every breath, draws Mildred’s attention. For her, this recovery is nothing short of a miracle. Shantel’s life began like any other. She was born healthy and discharged just eight hours later. But at six weeks old, her cries became unusually sharp and...