Emergency & Trauma Services

A medical emergency can happen at any time, and when it does, fast and effective care can mean the difference between life and death. At Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH), a major transformation in emergency and trauma care is helping ensure that patients receive timely, specialized, and compassionate treatment when they need it most.
The hospital has unveiled a newly refurbished Accident and Emergency (A&E) Unit, now the largest emergency care facility in the region. The modernized unit, which was developed from the hospital’s former outpatient department, represents a significant milestone in JOOTRH’s efforts to strengthen emergency healthcare services for the people of Kisumu County and neighboring regions.
The upgraded A&E unit has been designed to manage a wide range of critical conditions, including road traffic injuries, severe trauma, cardiac emergencies, infections, breathing difficulties, and other urgent medical situations. With improved space, modern equipment, and better workflow systems, healthcare workers are now able to assess and treat patients more quickly and efficiently. The overall aim is to reduce delays in treatment and improve patient survival and recovery outcomes.
The facility was officially opened on behalf of Anyang’ Nyong’o, highlighting the county government’s commitment to improving healthcare infrastructure and strengthening specialized medical services. According to Dr. Owili, the expanded unit carries enormous life-saving potential and gives frontline healthcare workers the support they need to respond swiftly during emergencies.
The need for improved emergency care has continued to rise steadily. Toward the end of 2025, JOOTRH recorded a sharp increase in the number of patients seeking urgent medical attention. Between September and December, referrals to the A&E department rose from 189 cases to 285 in November before slightly reducing to 283 in December. What was once mainly a referral coordination desk has evolved into a busy emergency intake center, reflecting both the growing demand for emergency services and the confidence patients have in JOOTRH’s ability to provide specialized care.
To further strengthen emergency response services, the hospital also received a fully equipped Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) ambulance donated by the World Health Organization through Kenya’s Ministry of Health. The ambulance functions as a mobile intensive care unit, allowing trained medical teams to begin critical treatment before patients even arrive at the hospital.
The ACLS ambulance is fitted with advanced medical equipment including a ventilator, defibrillator, ECG machine, oxygen supply systems, patient monitors, infusion and syringe pumps, emergency medications, and trauma kits. This enables emergency teams to stabilize patients experiencing heart attacks, strokes, severe injuries, breathing complications, and other life-threatening conditions while in transit.
Looking ahead, JOOTRH plans to further expand the A&E department through the establishment of a fully functional emergency theatre and High Dependency Units (HDUs). These additions will allow emergency surgeries to be performed immediately and provide close monitoring for critically ill patients requiring specialized support.
Beyond buildings and equipment, this transformation is about people. It is about ensuring that every patient arriving at JOOTRH in pain, fear, or distress is met with readiness, dignity, compassion, and the highest standard of emergency care possible.