Kisumu: Thousands of sickle cell patients in Western Kenya are set to benefit from a groundbreaking medical intervention as Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) prepares to introduce red blood cell exchange (RBCx) therapy. Through technical support from Nairobi West Hospital, JOOTRH will offer the advanced procedure beginning September 1, 2025, offering a lifeline to patients who for many years have endured long distances travelling to Nairobi for the service.
According to Kenya News Agency, RBCx is a non-surgical, highly effective therapy that replaces abnormal sickled red blood cells with healthy donor cells. The treatment significantly improves oxygen delivery in the body, reduces the frequency of painful crises, and lowers the risk of life-threatening complications, offering patients a better quality of life and improved survival rates.
JOOTRH Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr. Richard Lesiyampe said the procedure will be carried out at the facility's revamped Bictoria Annex Hospital in Milimani, where a modern apheresis machine has been installed. Dr. Lesiyampe hailed the initiative as a turning point in Kenya's sickle cell care landscape, saying it will greatly ease the burden on families and eliminate the need for many to travel long distances in search of care.
The collaboration between JOOTRH and Nairobi West Hospital, he said, marks a strategic shift toward sustainable, patient-centred care and reinforces Kenya's commitment to expanding access to specialised health services across the country. Nairobi West Hospital, which operates the country's only Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) Unit, will support the rollout by providing training to JOOTRH staff and supervising the implementation.
Since opening in October 2022, the BMT Unit has performed a series of transplants with a 100 per cent success rate, offering hope to many patients who previously had to seek treatment abroad, mostly in India. Sickle cell disease remains a major public health burden in Kenya, with western region counties like Kisumu, Homa Bay, and Siaya experiencing the highest prevalence. An estimated 14,000 children are born with the condition annually, many of whom suffer repeated hospitalisations and limited access to specialised care.