Kisumu: The Aga Khan Hospital (AKHK), Kisumu, in collaboration with the Kenya Association of Pediatric Surgeons (KAPS) and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital, will next week host the KAPS 2025 Annual Children's Surgical Camp. The life-changing initiative involves offering free specialized surgeries to children and young people of up to 22 years across Western Kenya.
According to Kenya News Agency, the three-day camp, scheduled from Monday, 29th September to Wednesday, 1st October 2025, will take place at the Aga Khan Theatre, Kisumu, which will see thirteen pediatric patients undergo the procedures. The surgeries aim to provide critical surgical interventions for children aged between 0-22 years.
The surgeries will address both health conditions at birth and acquired conditions with beneficiaries identified from across ten counties in the Lake Region - Kisumu, Siaya, Homabay, Kisii, Nyamira, Migori, Bungoma, Kakamega, Vihiga, and Busia. This will ensure that children from some of the neediest families and communities receive quality, specialized care.
The initiative comes at no cost to families, with all expenses covered by Aga Khan Hospital Kisumu, KAPS, and SHA, hence ensuring financial ease to the patients. Speaking ahead of the camp, Erick Owino, Communications Officer at AKHK, noted that the camp is part of a broader mission to improve access to pediatric healthcare services.
"This surgical camp is not just about operations, it is about giving children a chance at healthier, brighter futures. By raising awareness of children's surgical needs, we hope to inspire more community participation and support," he said. The annual event underscores ongoing efforts to bridge healthcare gaps in Western Kenya, particularly in specialized pediatric services that are often unavailable or unaffordable to many families.
Organizers see health as one of the most important pillars of human life, therefore emphasized the importance of creating awareness of such initiatives to the community. They are optimistic that the initiative will not only improve access to specialized care, but also inspire community participation in supporting child health interventions.