l
The County Government of Kirinyaga has marked yet another milestone in the medical field as
doctors perform first minimally invasive surgery in the county at the Kimbimbi Subcounty
Hospital.
This milestone has come barely a month after the first spinal surgery in the county was
successfully operated at Kerugoya County and Referral Hospital.
The laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed on a 39 years old woman from Gathigiriri
ward. The patient who was suffering from cholecystitis is stable and now recuperating in the
ward after a successful surgery.
The groundbreaking medical procedure is a leap forward for Governor Anne Waiguru’s
elaborate Comprehensive Healthcare Coverage strategy that is aimed at ensuring that county
residents access quality and affordable healthcare services within the county.
After the undertaking the successful laparoscopy, Dr. Madaraka Ogoye, who was the lead
surgeon said that the surgery was a breakthrough in the county’s medical care provision. He said
that minimally invasive procedure is effective and more cost-effective compared to the
conventional open surgery.
“Minimal invasive surgery does not make big cuts on patients since we use specialized equipment
to make small incisions, through which we carry out the surgery. Smaller incisions mean less
pain, faster recovery, quicker return home, back to work quickly, and all this means that overall,
minimally invasive surgery is cost-effective, as the shorter the stay at a hospital, the cheaper it
is.” He said.
Dr. Ogoye emphasized the global trend towards minimal invasive surgeries due to their benefits,
including reduced morbidity associated with open surgeries, faster recovery times, and cost-
effectiveness. He termed the surgery as first of its kind that has been introduced in the county as
the world transitions from open surgery.
He thanked Governor Waiguru for affording him the opportunity to undertake post graduate
studies where he acquired skills on general surgery as well as minimally invasive surgery. He
also thanked the county government for provision of a conducive environment and equipment to
carry out such an operation.
The doctor said that there were plans to collaborate with other counties on building the capacity
of doctors and other medical cadres in order to build teams that can safely and effectively
provide minimally invasive surgeries in various counties.
Commenting on this milestone, the County Executive Committee Member of Health, George
Karoki, commended the first laparoscopy in the county noting that Kirinyaga was in the right
trajectory as far as provision of medical services is concerned and is fast moving in adoption of
modern technology and medical advancement.
The CECM expressed gratitude to Governor Waiguru for creating an enabling environment for
such advancements.
Governor Waiguru has said that the county government is committed in the improvement of
health infrastructure as well as service delivery.
She said that Kimbimbi hospital is set to be upgraded to a Level Four Hospital after the
construction of a modern state-of-the-art complex that is expected to be opened by close of
current financial year.
“The new facility will accommodate modern theaters that will enable the medics to carry out
complex procedures which will reduce the number of referrals to Kerugoya Level Five Hospital
thus reducing congestion at the facility,”; she said.
Kianyaga Hospital is also set for upgrading to Level Five once the upcoming medical operation
is operationalized. The new hospital complexes will each have 120- beds capacity.
Waiguru emphasized on her unwavering commitment in the improvement of county healthcare
provision as well as human resource capacity building saying more medics will be hired this
year.
ENDS
