Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa (R) shakes hands with one of the beneficiaries of the ongoing free medical outreach at the Kakamega County General Hospital on Friday /HILTON OTENYOMore than 150 residents from Kakamega and neighbouring counties have received free specialised surgeries through an ongoing medical outreach programme at Kakamega County General Hospital.
The beneficiaries have undergone a wide range of procedures, from minor operations, such as lump removals, to specialised plastic and urological surgeries. Two weeks ago, the hospital also conducted free knee surgeries for 30 patients.
The programme is being implemented through a partnership between Operation International–USA and the Kakamega county government's health team.
The joint team comprises 30 medical specialists from the United States, led by Dr Ian Otinga, and 106 healthcare professionals from Kakamega county, headed by the hospital's superintendent, Dr Christian Lamba.
Lamba said patients benefiting from the outreach are first identified within the community before being referred to the county general hospital for specialised treatment at no cost.
He said about 90 patients had undergone general surgeries over the past two weeks, adding that the programme has enabled many residents who would otherwise be unable to afford surgery to access treatment.
To qualify, beneficiaries must be registered with the Social Health Authority, which will cater for their post-operative follow-up care.
Lamba said many patients delay or forgo surgery because of financial constraints, while others mistakenly believe specialised procedures are unavailable in Kakamega.
"Some people still believe that the surgeries they require cannot be performed here in Kakamega. We want to enlighten them to understand that these services are available and they can access them closer than they think," he said.
He added that the outreach is also helping dispel misconceptions about SHA by demonstrating its benefits to residents.
"The outreach is also a way of encouraging residents in the county to enrol with SHA by showing them some of the benefits that have been buried in misinformation out there," Lamba said.
Governor Fernandes Barasa, who toured the hospital on Thursday to assess the progress of the programme, said medical teams had performed 150 surgeries, with another 20 procedures scheduled before the outreach concludes.
He said patients from all 12 subcounties of Kakamega as well as neighbouring counties had benefited from the specialised operations, many of which would have been financially out of reach.
"The partnership demonstrates the county government's commitment to expanding access to quality and affordable healthcare," Barasa said.
"Collaborations of this nature are important in strengthening specialised healthcare services while ensuring that patients, particularly those from vulnerable backgrounds, can access treatment without the burden of prohibitive medical costs."
