Kerugoya, Kenya – In a significant advancement for healthcare in Kirinyaga County, surgeons at Kerugoya County Referral Hospital successfully performed the hospital’s first spinal surgery. This operation marks a crucial development in the county’s medical capabilities.

The groundbreaking surgery was performed on a 30-year-old man who sustained a spinal injury, specifically a lumbar vertebra 1 and 2 fracture, following a fall. The surgical team, led by Dr. Robert Oluoch, an orthopedic surgeon, comprised 10 specialists, including an orthopedic and spine technician, general surgeons, medical officers, an anesthesiologist, and nurses.

According to Kenya News Agency, a member of the surgical team, the five-hour procedure involved a multidisciplinary approach due to the complexity of the surgery. The operation included instrumentation, stabilization of the spine, and a decompressive laminectomy of lumbar spines 1 and 2. He noted the critical importance of the vertebrae in protecting the spinal cord and confirmed that the patient is in stable condition, recovering in the general ward with an expected discharge in one month.

Stanley Muriithi, the Chief Officer for Health, highlighted the county’s enhanced capacity for complex medical procedures, attributing this progress to the hiring of experienced medical professionals like Dr. Oluoch and the construction and equipping of a new state-of-the-art medical complex. The operationalization of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in this facility has significantly raised the county’s ability to perform delicate surgeries.

Muriithi also mentioned that previously, the hospital had to refer complex cases to other facilities, but with the advancements in medical infrastructure and modern equipment, Kerugoya Referral Hospital can now manage more intricate surgical cases.

Governor Ann Waiguru, during the opening of the complex, emphasized the benefits of devolution in enhancing access to affordable healthcare services in Kenya. She further stated that the hospital has been upgraded to a level 5 standard with modern facilities, positioning it as a significant referral hospital in the region.

This successful spinal surgery at Kerugoya Referral Hospital stands as a testament to the strides made in healthcare service delivery and capacity building in Kirinyaga County.