JOORTH CEO Joshua Okise and Senior Director Finance and Administration Evans Oloo during staff engagement meeting. Faith Matete 
A staff engagement meeting, at JOORTH in Kisumu. Faith Matete
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Plans are underway to construct about 2,000 housing units for staff at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) in Kisumu.

 

The project aims to improve staff welfare and ensure health workers live closer to the facility.

 

The proposed institutional housing project is being processed through the State Department for Housing and Urban Development, under the Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development.

 

Hospital management has already submitted a proposal for consideration.

 

Hospital chief executive officer Dr Joshua Okise said the development will enable doctors, nurses and other health workers to reside near the hospital.

 

This proximity will allow them to respond quickly to emergencies and attend to critically ill patients without delay.

 

Once the new houses are complete, Okise said staff currently in existing quarters will relocate to the modern units.

 

“This will allow the hospital to remove the current asbestos roofing in line with safety regulations, while also creating space for future expansion,” he said.

 

During a staff engagement meeting, the CEO announced that the institution’s transition process is nearing completion.

 

He informed staff that salary harmonisation is expected to take effect at the beginning of the second quarter. These ongoing reforms aim to improve staff motivation and service delivery.

 

Okise also revealed several other major development projects. Construction of an additional 2,000-bed hospital is expected to begin in August this year.

 

Furthermore, the hospital is currently building a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the Obama Children’s Hospital and a Comprehensive Cancer Centre.

 

These projects are part of a long-term plan to transform JOOTRH into a fully-fledged "medical city" capable of offering specialised healthcare services.

 

Okise urged staff to remain professional, responsible and committed to their duties.

He emphasised that teamwork is essential to strengthening service delivery at the referral facility.