Story by Sherine Atieno and Photos by Ondari Ogega The Theatre Sterile Supply Unit (TSSU) at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) is a critical support department that underpins safe surgical practice across the institution. The unit is responsible for sterilizing and supplying all surgical instruments and consumables used in the Main Theatre and Maternity Theatre, where both major and minor procedures are performed. Its services extend beyond the two theatres to Accident and Emergency, special clinics, all inpatient wards, and the hospital’s sister facilities, Prime Care Centre and Victoria Annex. The department operates under the leadership of...
Back on the Path to Productivity After Corrective Spinal Surgery
Story by Sherine Atieno and Photos by Lorraine Faith “I hope to get back to my work and provide for my family again,” says Wickliffe Odhiambo Adoma, 35, as he recovers in Ward 3A at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) following a successful spinal procedure. By his bedside is his wife, offering constant care and reassurance as he begins his journey toward recovery. Mr. Adoma, an electrician and motorcycle rider from Migori, sustained severe back injuries in June 2024 after his motorbike accidentally collided with road barriers that had been erected during the Gen Z demonstrations while...
FISTULA CAMP
The M-Pesa Foundation, in partnership with Jaramogi Oginga Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital , Amref Health Africa, The Flying Doctors’ Society of Africa, and Ramogi TV/Radio and the County Government of Kisumu and JOOTRH, is organizing a Free Fistula Camp to support women and girls across Kenya. Fistula is a condition where a hole forms between the birth canal and the bladder or rectum, leading to the uncontrollable leakage of urine or stool. If you or someone you know is affected, help and healing are available at no cost. Key Dates Screening Dates: 18th February – 6th March,...
Hope Rekindled as Neurocamp Kicks Off at JOOTRH
Story by Sherine Atieno and Photos by Lorraine Faith Hope has been rekindled for patients battling debilitating brain and spine conditions as the Neurosurgical camp officially kicks off at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH). The week-long camp, running from 16th to 20th February, is organized by the Kisumu Neuroscience Initiative in partnership with JOOTRH, bringing together an international team of neurosurgeons working alongside local specialists to provide life-changing surgical care to 50 patients with complex brain and spine conditions. Among the beneficiaries is Margaret Onyango from Bumala in Busia County, whose journey to healing has been marked...
Neurosurgical Camp Arrives at JOOTRH
Story and Photos by Ondari Ogega “A surgery is only as good as the care afterwards; we are not after volumes but ensuring the patients who trust us go home safely.” That was the powerful reminder from Dr. Victor Awuor, head of delegation of a multidisciplinary team under the Kisumu Neuroscience Initiative, as they arrived in Kisumu ahead of a week-long neurosurgical camp running from Monday, 16th to Friday, 20th February 2026. The visiting team from the United States includes neurosurgeons, anesthetists, nurses and, for the first time, a dedicated pediatric neurosurgeon focusing exclusively on children’s cases. Welcoming the team,...
JOOTRH Achieves Medical Milestone with First-Ever Minimally Invasive Chest Surgeries
Story by Lorraine Opondo and Photos by Lorraine Faith The Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) has hit a new milestone in its expansion of specialized medical services following the successful implementation of Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS). The procedure, a minimally invasive alternative to traditional open-chest surgery, is now a reality at the facility. So far, three patients have successfully undergone the procedure, with more lined up for surgery this week. Unlike traditional thoracotomy, which requires large incisions and is often associated with high morbidity and long recovery periods, VATS utilizes a small incision of only 3 cm...
Victoria Annex Clinic Expands Red Cell Exchange Services, Doubling Patient Numbers
Story by Sherine Atieno and Photos by Ondari Ogega and Ian Obadha Since the start of red cell apheresis at Victoria Annex Hospital in September last year, the number of children and adult sickle cell patients seeking care at the clinic has steadily increased. From just 30 patients, the clinic now attends to 60 individuals every week, and the numbers continue to grow as awareness of the life-saving procedure spreads. Speaking during the launch, Dr. Brenda Misore, in-charge of Sickle Cell Hematology and pediatric hemato-oncologist, highlighted the significance of the service. “At Victoria Annex, we see both adults and children....
JOOTRH Secures Continuous Care for Sickle Cell Patients
Story by Sherine Atieno and Photos by Benard Ondari Sickle cell disease warriors can now access apheresis treatment without delay or uncertainty following the commissioning of the Spectra Optia Apheresis Machine at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH). The development marks a major turning point in specialised care, as JOOTRH becomes the first public hospital in Kenya to own the advanced technology, ensuring uninterrupted and sustainable access to treatment for patients who previously faced long waiting periods. The Spectra Optia Apheresis Machine performs red cell exchange, a specialised procedure that removes damaged red blood cells and replaces them...
JOOTRH Surgeons Restores 12-Year-Old’s Face After Battery Explosion.
Story and Photos by Ian Obadha Maxillofacial surgeons at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) have successfully performed a complex, seven-hour reconstructive surgery on a 12-year-old boy. The child had catastrophic lower facial injuries from a phone battery explosion . The operation stabilized his jaws, secured the airway, and restored essential functions, including independent breathing, speech and swallowing. This procedure marks a significant milestone in Kenya’s medical landscape, following in the footsteps of a world-first facial restoration performed at Kenyatta National Hospital just four months ago. The young patient was rushed to JOOTRH from Vihiga County after a...