The Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) in Kisumu has achieved a groundbreaking medical milestone after successfully performing its first pneumonectomy the surgical removal of an entire lung.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Health on November 1, 2025, the complex operation was performed on a mother of eight suffering from severe lung infections. The surgery was led by Dr. Juma Odoro and his team from the hospital’s newly established Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery Unit.
The ministry confirmed that the surgery went smoothly and that the patient had been successfully discharged from the hospital. “The Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital has successfully performed its first pneumonectomy, marking a major milestone for the facility’s Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery Unit,” read part of the statement.
This remarkable achievement reflects JOOTRH’s expanding capacity to handle complex, life-saving surgical procedures, reinforcing Kenya’s broader commitment to Universal Health Coverage (UHC). The ministry noted that such progress enhances access to specialised healthcare across the country, particularly in Western Kenya, where advanced medical procedures have historically required patient transfers to Nairobi.
The successful lung removal follows another recent medical breakthrough at the same facility. On October 22, 2025, JOOTRH doctors performed the first cardiothoracic surgery in Western Kenya—an esophagectomy, which involves removing part of the oesophagus to treat stage II oesophageal cancer.
The patient, a mother of five, expressed her gratitude after the operation, saying, “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.”
These successive milestones firmly position JOOTRH as a regional leader in specialised healthcare and demonstrate the growing capacity of Kenya’s public health system to deliver advanced surgical care closer to home.
