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 born with an anorectal malformation, a condition that prevented stool from passing normally. At just a few months old, he underwent surgery, but complications left him with anal stenosis, meaning his anal passage became too narrow for stool to pass without pain. To make matters worse, he was also born with bladder exstrophy, a condition where the bladder develops outside the body.
At an age when he should be running and playing, Jacob has endured a childhood marked by discomfort and shame. His father narrates how the boy often has to be wrapped with clothes to manage stool that leaks through his stomach; a heartbreaking routine of constant cleaning.
When Mr. Ongudi learned through a friend on social media about the free paediatric surgical camp at JOOTRH, he did not hesitate. “I expect nothing but the best,” he says with quiet determination, his love and devotion to his son evident in every word. As Jacob is wheeled into theatre, the father remains steadfast, trusting that this operation will finally restore his son’s dignity and open the door to a brighter future.
A few beds away, Beatrice Ondeko, 31, from Ahero, rocks her two-month-old son, Braven. Just weeks ago, while bathing him, she noticed a swelling in his groin. At first, she brushed it off as normal baby discomfort, but when the cries grew louder, worry pushed her to seek help at JOOTRH’s Obama Children’s Hospital. Doctors confirmed it was not ordinary as Braven had a condition that required surgery.
When she learned about the upcoming camp, Beatrice arrived early, determined not to miss the opportunity. She longs for her son to grow up healthy and happy, her eyes never leaving the tiny baby in her arms.
Jacob and Braven are just two of the 124 children scheduled for corrective surgeries during this year’s camp, organized by the Kenya Association of Paediatric Surgeons (KAPS) in collaboration with JOOTRH.
The procedures, ranging from hernia repairs to reconstructive surgeries, are covered by Social Health Authority (SHA).
Children have been brought in from across the lake region counties: Kisumu, Siaya, Homa Bay, Migori, Kisii, Nyamira, Kakamega, Bungoma, Vihiga, and Busia. For many, the camp is the only chance for their children to access specialized surgical care that would otherwise be unaffordable.
