Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) has significantly strengthened its cancer care services following the return of two specialist doctors trained in gynaecologic oncology.
Dr Okoth Obinya and Dr Gabriel Ouma have resumed duty at the Kisumu-based referral hospital after completing two-year fellowship training programmes in gynaecologic oncology at the University of Nairobi and Moi University, respectively.
JOOTRH Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr Joshua Okise said the deployment of the two specialists will enhance screening, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancers affecting the female reproductive system, including cervical, ovarian, uterine, vulvar and vaginal cancers.
He said the return of the doctors comes at a time when the hospital is scaling up specialised services to meet the growing burden of cancer cases in the region.
“Their expertise will allow us to expand preventive services such as screening and vaccination, improve early diagnosis and strengthen treatment outcomes for women suffering from gynaecological cancers,” said Dr Okise.
He added that the hospital serves as the main referral facility for western Kenya and neighbouring regions, making the availability of specialised care critical to reducing referrals to Nairobi and Eldoret.
To support the expanded specialist workforce, Dr Okise said, the hospital plans to fully operationalise its second maternity theatre by the end of the month.
He added that the expansion will provide additional operating space, reduce surgical backlogs and allow for dedicated theatres for different clinical disciplines.
“The additional theatre will help improve efficiency, optimise workflow and enhance clinical outcomes,” he said.
Dr Gabriel Ouma, an International Gynaecologic Cancer Society (IGCS) fellow, said most cancer cases can be prevented or effectively treated if detected early, noting that JOOTRH was prioritising interception of disease at the pre-cancerous stage.
“Early presentation makes treatment more effective and affordable. Our focus is to detect disease before it advances, when outcomes are better and lives can be saved,” he said.
The two doctors previously served at JOOTRH as medical officers before advancing to consultant level and later pursuing specialised training, a factor hospital officials say strengthens continuity of care and institutional capacity.
They will now join Dr Katumba Jerome, the hospital’s resident gynaecologist, significantly easing workload pressure and enabling the facility to manage a higher volume of complex cases.
Dr Katumba said the additional specialists will improve patient turnaround time and quality of care.
JOOTRH operates Kenya’s only live cancer dashboard, which captures real-time data on cancer cases diagnosed at the facility between 2012 and 2025.
According to the hospital, 4,525 new cancer cases were recorded during the period, with women disproportionately affected.
Women account for 54 per cent of all cases, while men represent 36 per cent, with cervical cancer remaining the most commonly diagnosed malignancy at the facility.
The strengthened gynaecologic oncology services are expected to reduce travel and accommodation costs for patients and their families, improve treatment adherence and contribute to better health outcomes across the region.
As the world marks Cervical Cancer Awareness Month in January, JOOTRH has reaffirmed its commitment to scaling up screening, vaccination and specialised treatment services as part of national efforts to reduce cancer-related deaths.
By Chris Mahandara
