Story By Sherine Atieno and Photos by Ondari Ogega

As a centre of excellence in HIV/AIDS care, treatment, and prevention, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) was honoured to host the U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM), Ms. Carla Benini. The visit was aimed at gaining firsthand insight into the hospital’s comprehensive HIV/AIDS programs and the collaborative efforts driving positive health outcomes in the region.
Ms. Benini was accompanied by the Deputy Director of the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the CDC Country Director, and the CEO of CIHEB Kenya. Their tour of JOOTRH focused on the hospital’s Comprehensive Care Centre’s (CCC) Youth Clinic where Operation Triple Zero (OTZ) activities are implemented.
At the Youth Clinic, Ms. Benini engaged with adolescents and young people living with HIV (AYPLHIV) enrolled in the OTZ program. The initiative encourages three goals among participants: zero missed appointments, zero missed doses, and zero viral load. She listened attentively as the youth shared their life journeys, challenges, and triumphs in managing HIV while pursuing education, work, and personal development.
Despite living with a chronic illness, the adolescents showcased income-generating projects. Ms. Benini praised their spirit and the hospital’s commitment to creating a youth-friendly environment where clients not only receive medical care but also psychosocial support and empowerment.
Established in 2003 as the first HIV clinic in the Nyanza and Western region, JOOTRH has grown into a national referral hub for advanced HIV disease management. Today, it serves as a centre of excellence for HIV care, treatment, and prevention, training site for advanced HIV disease management and research hub for HIV studies in partnership with local and international institutions.
As of May 2025, JOOTRH supports 6,800 clients on antiretroviral therapy (ART), including: 560 adolescents and young persons with OTZ club enrolment at 97%, 2,175 clients above 50 years receiving HIV care and over 1,000 clients also being treated for chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and mental illnesses.
The facility provides a broad range of services: voluntary male medical circumcision, PrEP, post-violence care, medical-assisted therapy for people who inject drugs (PWID), and routine HIV testing to an average of 20,000 people annually, with a 2% positivity yield.
JOOTRH’s integration model—where HIV care is linked with management of non-communicable diseases—has strengthened care delivery and improved patient outcomes. Despite temporary shortages of specific drugs such as Nevirapine, the hospital has maintained a viral suppression rate of 98%. It also serves as a key testing site for HIV and tuberculosis lab monitoring.
The impact is evident as viral suppression among children (0–14 years) improved from 69% in 2019 to 93% in 2025; among adolescents and young people, from 71% to 93%; and among adults, from 76% to 97%. Kisumu County, with a prevalence rate of 11.7%, is home to approximately 135,550 people living with HIV. JOOTRH manages care for 65% of these clients.
JOOTRH’s reach goes beyond the hospital through Community Health Promoters (CHPs) who educate, refer, and support patients in rural areas, helping to improve service uptake and reduce stigma.
While acknowledging donor support from CDC and CIHEB Kenya, JOOTRH is steering toward self-reliance by strengthening Ministry of Health-led structures and reducing dependence on external aid. The hospital is committed to building a resilient, integrated health system that responds to both communicable and non-communicable disease burdens.