Kisumu: A mother of five has become the first patient in Western Kenya to undergo a successful cardiothoracic surgery at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH), marking a landmark moment in the region’s medical history.
According to Kenya News Agency, Christine Awino Onyango, a 41-year-old vegetable vendor from Kisumu, underwent the operation known as esophagectomy, which is a complex procedure to remove part of the esophagus to treat Stage II esophageal cancer. The surgery was conducted by a newly reinstated team of cardiothoracic and vascular surgeons led by Dr. Robert Sadia and Dr. Juma Odoro, who returned to the hospital earlier this month after completing five years of specialized training.
Awino, who is now 12 days post-operation, has made progress and is set to be discharged. ‘God has brought me this far. I just want to thank Dr. Sadia and his team for taking their time with me. I am now feeling much better,’ she said from her hospital bed, her voice soft and hopeful. Her ordeal began with persistent pain when swallowing, followed by vomiting small amounts of food. After initial treatment at Kisumu County Referral Hospital failed to ease her condition, further tests at JOOTRH revealed she had esophageal cancer.
The successful procedure represents a breakthrough for the Lake Region Economic Bloc (LREB), which has long lacked facilities capable of performing such operations. It also sets the stage for the upcoming launch of JOOTRH’s Heart Surgery Unit, expected to serve millions across Western Kenya and beyond. Dr. Sadia described the surgery as a milestone in improving access to specialized healthcare in Nyanza and Western regions. ‘An esophagectomy offers the best chance of controlling esophageal cancer and prolonging life. This success shows that patients in this region no longer have to travel to Nairobi or Eldoret for such advanced procedures,’ he said.
Esophageal cancer remains one of Kenya’s deadliest diseases. According to the Kenya National Cancer Registry, more than 2,000 new cases are diagnosed annually, with the country ranked among the top five globally in prevalence. The disease is especially common in the western and rift valley regions, where diets high in fermented foods and delayed diagnosis contribute to its high burden.
Until now, patients requiring esophagectomy had to seek treatment at Kenyatta National Hospital (Nairobi), Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (Eldoret), or occasionally travel abroad-journeys that are both financially and emotionally draining for most families. The introduction of cardiothoracic surgery at JOOTRH, therefore, offers hope for thousands who previously faced long waits and high costs. The hospital’s oncology department notes that esophageal cancer is the second most common cancer treated at JOOTRH, after cervical cancer.