By Lorraine Anyango.
The recent success of the September Neuro Camp 2024 at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) has highlighted the potential for making neurosurgery a more accessible and routine procedure in the region.
Following the camp, JOOTRH CEO Richard Lesiyampe met with a team of 12 visiting health workers from Atlanta, Georgia, to express his gratitude for their invaluable contributions. The team provided expert neurosurgical care, trained local staff, and helped to establish a foundation for continued neurosurgical services.
Dr. Bethwel Raore, the lead surgeon from Atlanta, expressed his satisfaction with the progress made during the camp. He emphasized that the goal was not merely to provide temporary services but to leave behind a lasting legacy of neurosurgical expertise.
Dr. Lee Ogutha, the only neurosurgeon in the Nyanza region, underscored the camp’s importance in providing affordable and accessible neurosurgical care to patients in need. He highlighted the challenges faced by many patients due to the scarcity of specialists and the high cost of treatment.
The Neuro Camp offered a platform for knowledge exchange and skill development among neurosurgeons. It also addressed the critical need for more specialists in the region, particularly in the western part of Kenya. Dr. Ogutha noted that the long training period and expensive equipment required for neurosurgery contribute to the limited availability of specialists.
The Kisumu Neuroscience Initiative, founded in 2017 by the Giving Back To Kenya NGO, has played a crucial role in improving access to neurosurgical care in the region. Through its efforts, the initiative has helped to establish a sustainable infrastructure and build the capacity of local healthcare providers.
As a result of the camp’s success and the ongoing efforts of the Kisumu Neuroscience Initiative, neurosurgery is poised to become a more accessible and routine procedure at JOOTRH. This development has significant implications for the health and well-being of patients in the region.
