Theatre Services

Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital, Theatre Department, is where some of the hospital’s most critical interventions take place, restoring health, saving lives, and offering patients a second chance through surgical care. From routine procedures to complex operations, the department continues to evolve, driven by expanded services, modern equipment, and outreach initiatives that are bringing care closer to the community.

The department has six theatre rooms that offer comprehensive surgical care across multiple specialties, supporting both elective and emergency procedures. In addition, there are separate theatres situated within the maternity unit and an ophthalmology theatre located at the eye ward, ensuring specialized care for both maternal and eye-related procedures and another at JOOTRH private wing, Victoria Hospital. These services are delivered by a multidisciplinary team of surgeons, anesthetists, nurses, and theatre technologists, each bringing expertise in different fields. Key specialties include maxillofacial surgery, plastic and reconstructive surgery, urology, and Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) services. The theatre also supports orthopedic surgery for musculoskeletal conditions, pediatric surgery tailored to children, and general surgery covering a wide range of common procedures.

Specialized services such as cardiothoracic surgery, neurosurgery, ophthalmology, and gynecological surgery are available, ensuring patients receive comprehensive and specialized care under one roof. All procedures are conducted in equipped operating theatres, with strict adherence to sterilization and patient safety protocols. Care is coordinated from pre-operative assessment through to post-operative monitoring, promoting positive patient outcomes.

The theater is equipped with modern surgical equipment. These include advanced anesthesia machines, multi-parameter patient monitors, high-intensity surgical lighting systems, modern operating tables, and improved sterilization units. These has significantly enhanced the department’s ability to deliver safe, efficient, and high-quality surgical care.

The maternity theatre, located in the maternity wing, is a fully equipped surgical unit that supports both emergency and elective obstetric and gynecological procedures, ensuring safe and timely care for mothers and newborns. The theatre is fitted with diathermy machines, anesthetic machines, suction machines, patient monitors, operating tables, operating lights and baby warmers that enhance precision during surgery and support effective patient monitoring and newborn care. The unit offers a wide range of services such as caesarean sections, laparoscopic surgeries, gynecological surgeries, gyne-oncology procedures, and urogynecology surgeries.

The ophthalmology theatre located at the Eye Ward is a specialized surgical unit dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of various eye conditions through advanced surgical procedures. The theatre is equipped with Zeiss OPMI Lumera 300 microscope for complex retinal and pediatric surgeries and surgical instruments. The unit offers a wide range of ophthalmic services such as cataract surgery, glaucoma surgery, evisceration and enucleation procedures, corneal repair, conjunctival growth excision, chalazion incision and curettage, intravitreal and eye injections, tarsorrhaphy, tarsal plate rotation, and conjunctival flap procedures. Through skilled ophthalmologists, nurses, and theatre staff, the ophthalmology theatre continues to provide specialized eye care aimed at restoring and preserving vision for patients.

Beyond the hospital setting, the Theatre Department has hosted and supported surgical outreach camps like Neurosurgical camp, obstetric fistula repair camp, pediatric surgical camp, Laparoscopy Camp and ENT surgical camp.
Within the facility, the theatres are available for use for surgical procedures 24/7 and continues to handle high volume of emergency cases, including trauma and other critical conditions that require immediate intervention. At the same time, better scheduling of elective surgeries has helped reduce waiting times and improve overall service delivery.