Written by Lisa Murimi
The Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) has achieved a groundbreaking medical milestone after successfully performing its first-ever pneumonectomy, a surgical procedure involving the removal of an entire lung.
In a statement released on Saturday, November 1, 2025, the Ministry of Health confirmed that the complex operation was performed on a mother of eight suffering from severe lung infections.
The procedure, conducted by Dr. Juma Odoro and his team from the hospital’s newly established Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery Unit, marks a new era for advanced healthcare in Western Kenya.
According to the Ministry, the patient responded positively to the surgery and has since been discharged, signaling a successful outcome.
“This achievement underscores JOOTRH’s growing capacity to offer complex, life-saving surgeries and supports Kenya’s efforts to expand access to specialized healthcare under Universal Health Coverage (UHC),” the statement read.
The pneumonectomy comes just days after JOOTRH made headlines for conducting its first cardiothoracic surgery on October 22, 2025.
That operation, an esophagectomy to remove part of the esophagus affected by stage II esophageal cancer, was performed on a mother of five, marking yet another significant step in the hospital’s medical advancement.
Speaking after her recovery, the patient expressed gratitude to the medical team for their care and professionalism.
“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.
These back-to-back successes highlight JOOTRH’s evolution into a regional hub for specialized medical care, reducing the need for patients from Western Kenya to travel to Nairobi or abroad for such procedures.
The Ministry of Health commended the hospital’s leadership and medical staff for their dedication and skill, noting that these advancements align with Kenya’s broader healthcare transformation agenda.
