Story by Ian Obadha and photos by Ondari Ogega As Breast Cancer Awareness Month unfolds, stories of resilience and hope emerge, particularly from cancer survivors who are now turning their personal battles into community support. These individuals are leading the charge in giving back, offering hope and tangible aid to those currently undergoing treatment. Rose Okoko, diagnosed with breast cancer four years ago, faced a grueling journey that included surgery, chemotherapy, and a mastectomy. “It was tough, but I stayed positive because my God can never give me a burden too heavy to handle,” Rose recalls. “With the incredible support...
September 30, 2025September 30, 2025
A Mother’s Fight for Her Daughter’s Healing
Story by Sherine Atieno and photos by Ondari Ogega Five-year-old Sheila Bahati has been living with omphalocele, a congenital (born with) condition where some of her abdominal organs developed outside the body. During the ongoing annual paediatric surgical camp at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH), she finally underwent a successful surgery to repair the defect. For Bahati, the struggle has not only been medical but also emotional. As she grew older and joined school, she became painfully aware of how different she looked from her classmates. Her enlarged stomach often drew stares and whispers. Sometimes, she would...
September 29, 2025September 29, 2025
Little Patients, Big Dreams: JOOTRH Gives 124 Children a Fresh Start
Story by Sherine Atieno and Photos by Ondari Ogega In ward three at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH), hope fills the air as parents clutch onto faith that their little ones will emerge stronger from the hands of specialists. Unlike the common sight of mothers keeping vigil at their children’s bedside, here sits 54-year-old Chrispinus Ongudi from Budalang’i, Busia County, robe tied firm, eyes fixed on his 4-year-old son, Jacob. The two made the nearly 70-mile journey to Kisumu, carrying nothing more than hope and the belief that this camp would change their lives forever. Jacob was...
September 25, 2025September 25, 2025
Pharmacists Driving Patient-centred Care
Story by Sherine Atieno and Photos by Ondari Ogega Patient-centred care was the central message as pharmacists marked this year’s World Pharmacists Day, celebrated under the global theme “Think Health, Think Pharmacists.” The commemoration served as a reminder of the pivotal role pharmacists play in transforming healthcare, not only through dispensing medicines but by ensuring that patients receive holistic care that extends to follow-up, and better health outcomes. Held at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH), the celebrations brought together healthcare institutions from the Pharmacists Society of Kenya, Nyanza branch. The celebrations featured a series of panel discussions...
September 24, 2025September 24, 2025
JOOTRH to Launch Heart Surgery Unit.
Story by Lorraine Anyango and photos by Ondari Ogega The Lake Region Economic Bloc (LREB) can finally breathe a sigh of relief as Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) prepares to launch its new heart surgery unit. This significant development follows the return of two Cardiothoracic and Vascular surgeons who have been on study leave for the past five years. Dr.Juma Odoro and Dr. Robert Sadia officially met with Acting CEO Joshua Clinton Okise on September 23, 2025, and are scheduled to report for duty on October 1, 2025. Their initial meeting was focused on the acquisition of...
September 24, 2025September 24, 2025
JOOTRH Fights Against the Silent Killer of Antimicrobial Resistance
Story by Sherine Atieno and photo by Ondari Ogega Did you know that more than half of the antibiotics prescribed today may no longer work when you need them most? If you are on antibiotics, how you take them could determine whether they save your life—or fuel the global menace of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). At Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH), one of the key ways we are tackling this challenge is through culture testing. This laboratory process helps doctors identify the exact germ causing an infection before settling on the right antibiotic. Instead of treating blindly, culture...
September 22, 2025September 22, 2025
A First at JOOTRH: Conjoined Twins Under Medical Care
Story by Lorraine Anyango and photos by Ondari Ogega Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH), begins the process of evaluating the first-ever conjoined twins born within the region. The two girls, joined at the chest and abdomen, are undergoing a series of tests to determine the next steps in their care. The twins, born on Saturday, September 20, 2025, to 26-year-old teacher Anne Adhiambo, were delivered by Cesarean section at Ramula in Karachuoyo Sub-County Hospital in Homa Bay. The twins’ condition, described as Thoracoabdominal-Omphalopagus, means they are joined from the nipple region down to their lower belly. They...
September 19, 2025September 19, 2025
Victoria Hospital Champions Sickle Cell Care with Awareness Caravan
Story by Sherine Atieno and Photos by Ondari Ogega Do you know your sickle cell status?” This was the resounding call at Victoria Hospital, an annex of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH), as the facility joined hands with Zuwi Afya CBO to host a medical safari caravan aimed at spreading awareness on sickle cell disease (SCD). The caravan, flagged off from Victoria Hospital, is winding its way through the streets of Kisumu with a final destination in Kitale. Between 19th and 21st September, it will host a series of medical outreach activities, offering sickle cell screening and...
September 17, 2025September 17, 2025
Oncology Nurses Lauded as Core of Patient’s Journey
Story and photos by Benard Ondari Oncology and palliative care nurses serve as “the heart of the patient’s journey,” guiding, educating, and providing comfort to patients throughout their treatment. This message was conveyed by Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH), CEO Joshua Okise during the 11th Annual Oncology Nurses Society of Kenya (ONS-K) Conference held at Ciala Resort in Kisumu. Mr. Okise pointed out that JOOTRH’s cancer registry has recorded 4,525 new cases from 2012 to 2025, with cervical, oesophageal, breast, prostate, and colorectal cancers being the most prevalent. He acknowledged the challenges faced, including a 50% dropout...
September 17, 2025September 17, 2025
Neurosurgical Camp at JOOTRH Brings Relief, Restores Dignity
Story by Ian Obadha and Brand Omega Photos by Ondari Ogega At Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH), hope is being restored one patient at a time through the ongoing neurosurgical medical camp organized in collaboration with the Kisumu Neuroscience Initiative. “I feel relived, the pain is all gone,” says a 42-year-old Beatrice Ochieng from Uyoma. For months, Beatrice lived with unbearable back pain that radiated all the way down to her legs. Walking, working, and even resting became daily struggles. Every time the pain worsened, she found herself seeking treatment at JOOTRH, hoping for answers. Her breakthrough...