The Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) Dental Department has performed its first surgery in a newly operationalised satellite theatre, removing a salivary gland tumour from a 13-year-old patient as the hospital moves to expand its capacity for dental and maxillofacial procedures.
In a statement shared on Tuesday, KNH said the patient was recovering following the operation, which marked the start of surgical services at the new facility.
The hospital said the operationalisation of the satellite theatre had been a key focus since April under the leadership of Dr Bwire Barasa, the department’s head and consultant maxillofacial surgeon.
The new theatre is expected to ease pressure on the department’s existing facilities by handling selected procedures that can be completed in approximately two hours.
These will include paediatric and soft tissue surgeries, alongside dental procedures such as fillings for children. More complex and lengthy operations will continue to be performed at the main theatre.
The additional space is intended to improve the department’s workflow and allow more patients to access treatment without having to wait as long for available theatre slots.
The first operation marks an initial step in expanding the range of procedures the department can accommodate, with the hospital saying it will continue refining the facility’s operations to improve service delivery.
The development comes as KNH seeks to strengthen access to specialised dental and maxillofacial care, including treatment for children and patients requiring surgical intervention.
