KISUMU, Kenya – The provision of healthcare services in Kisumu County is expected to improve after the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH), the region’s leading medical facility, significantly upgraded its services.
The hospital has launched a new Accident and Emergency Unit, advanced dialysis machines, and a comprehensive five-year strategic plan.
Kisumu Deputy Governor Dr. Mathews Owili presided over the triple launch, which marked a major step towards establishing JOOTRH as a leading healthcare provider not only in the Nyanza region but in Kenya as a whole.
The newly refurbished Accident and Emergency Unit, now the largest in the region, occupies the former outpatient department.
“This state-of-the-art facility is expected to revolutionise emergency care, providing swift and specialised treatment for critical cases,” said Dr. Owili.
Why technology is essential in the health sector
Dr. Owili emphasised the unit’s life-saving potential, noting its crucial role in improving health outcomes.
Beyond emergency care, JOOTRH is strengthening its position as a referral centre.
Dr. Gregory Ganda, County Executive Committee Member for Health and Sanitation, highlighted the importance of technology in streamlining referrals and advocating for virtual specialist appointments to reduce patient travel.
Dialysis patients also received a significant boost with the commissioning of seven new online HDF dialysis machines.
This doubles the hospital’s capacity and places JOOTRH among the few facilities in Kenya offering this advanced technology.
Today marks a significant milestone in the development of the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) Strategy 2024-2029—a roadmap designed to transform healthcare delivery in our county. This strategy is driven by the need to address critical health…
HDF dialysis provides more comprehensive blood purification, reduces anaemia, and improves cardiovascular stability, dramatically enhancing patients’ quality of life.
JOOTRH’s 2024-2029 strategic plan outlines a patient-centred approach to healthcare.
What the new JOOTRH strategy focuses on
Key pillars include community engagement through outreach health centres like Kosawo Hospital for primary care, Holo Hospital for mental wellness, and Victoria Annex for sickle cell care.
The plan also focuses on expanding specialised services, including new clinics for dialysis, diabetes, ENT, cardiovascular care, and radiotherapy. Furthermore, it addresses leadership and governance, operational excellence, and financial sustainability.
For his part, Festus Achila, acting chair of the JOOTRH Board of Management, praised the strategy, particularly its focus on community needs through facilities like Victoria Annex and Kosawo Hospital.
A representative from the Kisumu County Health Assembly lauded Dr. Richard Lesiyampe, JOOTRH’s CEO, for his leadership and vision and emphasised the ongoing efforts to elevate JOOTRH to a national parastatal.
“Allow me to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the County Government, partners, and staff in their efforts to ensure that together this hospital becomes a national parastatal and a centre of excellence,” said Dr. Lesiyampe, further revealing plans for a comprehensive cancer centre and bone marrow transplant unit.
Serving a catchment area of over ten million people across 14 counties, JOOTRH’s latest initiatives represent a significant advancement in accessible, responsive, and affordable healthcare for the region.
