Laikipia County residents are set to benefit from a two week free Orthopaedic medical camp organized by Future Health Africa in partnership with Nanyuki Teaching and Referral hospital (NTRH).
The medical camp targets to operate some 250 patients with joint and bone problems and screen other 2500 patients who require non-surgical interventions.
“We are planning to operate for the next two weeks, and so far, we have received over 400 patients and we expect before the end of the exercise, we will have done more consultations, surgeries and reviews. We have seen many desperate cases that have been waiting for surgery for a long time,” said Dr. Samuel Ndanya who is an orthopaedic and Trauma Surgeon at NTRH.
Dr. Ndanya who was speaking during the official launch of the medical camp over the weekend, further pointed out that, some of the surgeries cost over Sh.200, 000, but the government had waived off medical charges for patients with or without National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) cover.
“For this to happen, a lot of resources have been spent by the government because orthopaedic management is an expensive process and a lot of patients’ surgeries will cost over Sh200, 000 and some can’t afford that kind of money. So, the county government has given us a leeway to treat people for free, either for surgery, consultation, drugs and x-rays,” added Dr. Ndanya.
Dr. Christoph Mcallen, orthopaedic surgeon from Future Health Africa, which is a UK-based charity targeting to improve well-being of people in low-middle-income countries said, the team of seventeen health professionals comprising of surgeons, physiotherapists, radiographers, anaesthetists and theatre staff will work closely with their Kenyan counterparts in bid to develop their skills and serve residents seamless.
“Whenever a Kenyan patient is treated, there will be a Kenyan and UK colleague there and that allows us to develop our skills. This is not a one-way transfer from UK to Kenyan healthcare professionals, it’s both ways,” said Dr. Mcallen.
He added that “We learn a lot of diseases that affect Kenyans patients and we don’t see them back at home. We are honoured and we look forward to treating many patients together.”
Laikipia Governor Joshua Irungu said that the medical camp will benefit patients from Neighbouring counties of Meru, Nyandarua, Isiolo, Samburu and Nyeri who lack resources to get treatment.
He appealed to those who had bone or other deformities due to accidents to turn up for the free orthopaedic medical camp and get treated.
By Muturi Mwangi
