Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) in Kisumu County has been elevated to National Referral Hospital following a cabinet approval.
The facility popularly known as Russia Hospital which has been under the management of the county government of Kisumu has also gained state parastatal status.
This will see the management taken over by the Ministry of Health, a move set to significantly improve healthcare service delivery for both the region and the country at large.
Kisumu Governor Prof. Anyang Nyong’o lauded the cabinet’s decision, saying with its new status, JOOTRH will receive adequate resources to continue expanding its service delivery within the Lake Region and beyond.
The county government, he added has over the years undertaken various reforms that have improved service delivery setting the stage for the facility’s elevation.
In a statement to the media, Nyong’o added that his government will continue to support and nurture the facility through various capacity-building programs to enhance service delivery.
JOOTRH Chief Executive Officer Dr. Richard Lesiyampe said the new status which was long overdue now ranks the hospital among the highest-tier medical facilities in the country, making it a critical player in the referral system.
As a national referral hospital, he said, the facility will provide a wider array of advanced medical services, including specialised surgery, trauma care, and advanced diagnostics, addressing the needs of patients from across the country.
The state parastatal status, he added will ensure more autonomy in management and better access to government funding for infrastructure development and equipment acquisition.
Lesiyampe, who has been at the helm of the facility for one year, expressed gratitude, saying, “This is a monumental step for JOOTRH. The transition to a national referral hospital and parastatal will allow us to further enhance the quality of care, expand our capacity, and recruit more specialised medical professionals to serve the growing needs of our patients.”
The facility, he said, was grappling with a shortage of staff in different departments adding that a team from the Ministry of Health was expected on Monday next week to fast-track the transition.
The CEO revealed that with a bed capacity of 900, the hospital was only having 954 staff adding that the management will push to employ more specialists and nurses to bring the number to 2,500.
He assured all the 954 workers at the facility that their jobs were secure adding that the management will negotiate with the ministry for better perks to ensure a motivated workforce.
Lesiyampe said that JOOTRH has undertaken a number of ventures to enhance service delivery pointing out the establishment of a Prime Care Unit, Victoria Annex Sickle Cell Hospital and Kosawo Hospital adding that more facilities were set to be established.
By Chris Mahandara
