Story by Sherine Atieno and Photos by Ondari Ogega When two-year-old Parloma Apondi was born with omphalocele, a rare condition where some abdominal organs develop outside the body, her parents feared for her survival. This week, during the annual paediatric surgical camp at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH), she finally received the...
Category: Children’s health
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When a Birthday Became a Second Chance at Life
Story by Sherine Atieno and Photos by Ondari Ogega “If I had to pay for this surgery from my own pocket, I wouldn’t have managed to afford it,” says a deeply grateful Gladys Achieng. The 27-year-old mother from Seme now sees her son’s successful operation as a priceless birthday gift and a new chance at...
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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...
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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...
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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,...
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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...
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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...
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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....
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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...
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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...