Kisumu: Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) will host a week-long specialized ear and hearing surgical camp from October 27-31 this year, targeting patients suffering from various ear conditions. The camp, organized in partnership with Operation Ear Drops, will bring together surgeons from the Netherlands, top Kenyan specialists, and ENT surgeons in training from the University of Nairobi to provide advanced treatment for patients with hearing impairment, discharging ears, and other complex ear-related problems.
According to Kenya News Agency, Dr. George Akuno, the Head of ENT Surgical Services at JOOTRH, stated the initiative comes at a time when demand for ear, nose, and throat services in the region is rapidly rising. "In just three months, our ENT Department has attended to over 2,478 patients. This underscores the growing burden of ear and hearing problems and the urgent need to expand specialized care within the Lake Region Economic Bloc," he said.
Speaking to KNA at the facility, Dr. Akuno highlighted that JOOTRH remains the only fully functional public hospital in the Lake Region Economic Bloc (LREB), offering a full range of ENT, Head, and Neck surgical services. "All ear surgeries across the 14 LREB counties are conducted here at JOOTRH. We are proud to serve as the regional hub for ENT surgeries, where patients from across Western Kenya can access world-class expertise locally," Dr. Akuno said.
Screening for patients eligible for surgery is already underway at the hospital's ENT Filter Clinic and will continue daily until October 24th. Consultant clinic screenings are held every Tuesday and Thursday. Patients who successfully complete screening will be allocated specific surgical dates once the camp begins.
The hospital has also announced that the entire camp will be covered by the Social Health Authority (SHA), and members are urged to confirm that their accounts are up to date. The camp is expected to significantly boost access to specialized ear and hearing treatment in Western Kenya, offering thousands of patients a chance for restored hearing and improved quality of life.