By Lorraine Anyango.
Surgeons, nurses, medical, and clinical officers who acquired basic laparoscopy skills during a recent inaugural camp at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) have praised the initiative as a valuable learning experience. The camp, a joint effort by Laparoscopy Mashinani and JOOTRH, saw up to 30 patients benefit from minimally invasive surgical procedures.
Laparoscopy, a surgical technique that uses small incisions to perform procedures, was used for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. The camp addressed a range of conditions, including fibroids, infertility, endometriosis, gallstones, and hernias.
“This is not just a camp where we come in, do cases, and leave,” said the founder of Laparoscopy Mashinani Dr Joseph Njagi. “We are having conversations with patients, screening them, and discussing their cases with doctors. This is impactful for everyone involved.”
Dr. Wameyo Akwabi, an obstetrician and gynecologist at JOOTRH, noted that laparoscopy services have been offered at the hospital for about three years. Sor far about 200 cases have been finalized “Many patients used to travel to Nairobi for laparoscopy procedures,” she said. “It’s important for them to know that this service is now available at JOOTRH.”
Laparoscopy offers several advantages over traditional open surgery, including smaller incisions, quicker recovery time, shorter hospital stays, fewer complications, and less pain. These benefits make it a more cost-effective option for many patients.
The camp has generated significant demand for laparoscopy services, and the trained personnel at JOOTRH will continue to offer these procedures. Laparoscopy Mashinani, an initiative aimed at providing affordable surgical services to rural communities in Kenya, aligns with the government’s universal health coverage agenda. The organization conducts monthly medical camps in rural areas to achieve this goal.
