Kenya Orthopaedic Association (KOA) has launched a 5-day surgical camp in Kisumu in honour of renowned orthopaedic surgeon Dr Daniel Alushula.
Dr Alushula who is credited for great service in Western Kenya succumbed to Covid-19 last year.
A team of 20 volunteer surgical doctors will conduct operations at public hospitals across the county to help reduce a backlog of cases.
Speaking during the launch of the camp, Kisumu Governor Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o said the camp which will run up to February 18 will help clear the bulk of cases pending at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) and the Kisumu County hospital.
Given the high cost of treatment and the tough economic times, he said a large number of patients with fractures of long bones, head injuries and chest trauma were waiting to undergo orthopaedic surgeries at various health facilities in the area.
“There has been a large increase in accidents in the past one year especially in the Boda Boda sector putting a strain on the surgeons,” he said.
The camp, he added, will also help fight the growing challenge of diseases of the joints and spine that require constructive and replacement therapy.
“We are excited that these are some of the patients who will benefit from these services right within the public sector space through universal health care,” he said.
The surgeries, he said, shall be conducted at a subsidised price while patients from poor backgrounds who do not have NHIF cards shall be treated free of charge.
About 50 beneficiaries who have been waiting for surgeries at JOOTRH, he said, were set to benefit from the medical camp.
Dr Neema Mbaruku, who is one of the doctors conducting the surgeries said among those to benefit were patients who have stayed for long at health facilities due to lack of implants and reconstruction services.
“Patients from communities who cannot afford access to surgery privately will now get it at a lower cost,” she added.
The camp is expected to offer surgery of complex polytrauma cases such as those from road accidents, degenerative and tumour cases.
With one at JOOTRH, concurrent camps are expected to run at Kisumu County Referral Hospital (KCRH), St Elizabeth Chiga and Maseno Mission Hospital.
He said orthopedic surgery in terms of hardware implants, remained costly adding that the services shall be waived during the medical camp to benefit more patients.
By Lorine Awino and Evangeline Mola
