US neurospecialists have launched a five-day surgical outreach at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital to operate on 50 patients with brain and spinal conditions.
The initiative seeks to ease the growing demand for specialised neurological care in western Kenya and neighbouring regions.
The medical mission, running from Monday to Friday this week under the Kisumu Neuroscience Initiative, has assembled a multidisciplinary team of neurosurgeons, anaesthetists and theatre nurses.
For the first time, the programme includes a dedicated paediatric neurosurgeon to manage children with neurological disorders, expanding the scope of services offered during the camp.
Dr Victor Awuor, the team lead, said the team’s consistent return to Kisumu over the past six years demonstrates their commitment to strengthening neurosurgical services in the region.
“Five years and now six years and we keep coming back. It reflects the partnership we have built here. We are excited to be part of this and appreciate the hospitality,” he said.
Dr Awuor, a neurosurgeon based in Columbus, Ohio, co-founded the Kisumu Neuroscience Initiative in 2017.
Their first surgical camp in 2018 saw more than 30 operations performed.
He underscored that patient safety and quality outcomes remain central to the initiative.
“It is not about the numbers. It is about ensuring that the patients who entrust us with their lives recover well and return to their families safely,” he added, noting that proper post-operative care and training are critical components of successful surgery.
International neurosurgeon Dr Robert Galler from New York said the programme’s progress over the years has been remarkable.
“Each year we see growth of more trained professionals and stronger systems in place. It is fulfilling to witness that transformation,” he said, noting that his collaboration with Dr Awuor grew out of earlier professional exchanges and a shared interest in expanding neurosurgical care in East Africa.
At the host facility, acting CEO Dr Joshua Okise said the partnership has significantly improved specialised services at the referral hospital.
“When this initiative began, we did not have a neurosurgeon here. Today we have three, and we expect two more to complete training soon. By the end of the year, we hope to have five neurosurgeons serving this hospital,” he said.
Since its inception in 2017, the initiative has performed more than 554 surgeries and conducted over 1,500 clinic reviews.
He said that JOOTRH serves patients from across the lake region, as well as other parts of Kenya and neighbouring countries, making the camp crucial for patients who cannot afford private specialised care.
JOOTRH neurosurgeon Dr Lee Ogutha said the outreach goes beyond surgeries, with a strong emphasis on building local capacity.
“We are not only performing surgery but also training theatre teams, mentoring residents and strengthening systems that will continue to support patients long after the camp ends,” Dr Ogutha said.
The visiting team is also conducting mentorship sessions for registrars and nursing staff to ensure continuity of care once the international specialists department .
The surgical camp will culminate in the sixth Kisumu Neurosurgery Symposium on Saturday, where specialists from different countries will convene to discuss advancements in neurosurgical care, research and regional collaboration.
As the week progresses, dozens of patients including children requiring specialised brain surgery are expected to benefit not only from life-saving procedures but also from the long-term capacity building aimed at sustaining neurosurgical services in western Kenya.
