Kisumu: Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) has unveiled plans to expand its Victoria Annex in a major effort to boost access to specialized healthcare and ease congestion at the main facility. Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Joshua Okise stated that the expansion will transform the annex into a fully-fledged satellite hospital offering advanced surgical, diagnostic, and blood treatment services for patients across western Kenya.
According to Kenya News Agency, the upgrade will include the establishment of new specialized clinics, expansion of surgical theatres, and installation of modern diagnostic equipment. The facility will also host an apheresis unit - a first of its kind in Western Kenya to support the management of sickle cell disease and other complex blood conditions.
'Our goal is to decentralize specialized services and make quality healthcare more accessible to communities in the region. The Victoria Annex will ease pressure on the main hospital and improve turnaround time for patients requiring specialized attention,' Okise said. As part of the expansion, the hospital will increase bed capacity, enhance its laboratory and pharmaceutical units, and upgrade existing wards to meet rising demand.
New staff, including five nurses, two laboratory technologists, two pharmaceutical technologists, and one medical officer, are set to be deployed to the facility. The hospital has also appointed Dr. Michaell Ojuma as Director and Mr. Jacob Okumu as Hospital Administrator to spearhead the rollout of the new services and ensure efficiency in management.
Okise mentioned that the expansion aligns with JOOTRH's broader modernization plan, which seeks to position the Kisumu-based referral hospital as a regional hub for specialized medical care, research, and training. 'This is part of our long-term strategy to enhance capacity, attract partnerships, and strengthen our role in delivering Universal Health Coverage,' he added.
The Victoria Annex currently houses the hospital's sickle cell clinic and surgical unit but has faced rising patient numbers in recent months following the introduction of apheresis services. Okise added that once the expansion is complete, the facility will be able to handle a larger caseload, perform more surgeries weekly, and offer advanced diagnostics under one roof. Staff welcomed the planned expansion, saying it would improve patient outcomes and working conditions.