Nanyuki Medical Camp Changes The Lives Of 51 Orthopedic Patients
Updated on: Apr 12, 2019
Fifty-one patients have received life-changing surgeries during a three-day medical camp that ended on Friday, 12th April, 2019 at Nanyuki Teaching and Referral Hospital.
Ordinarily, it would have taken doctors at the hospital six months to operate such number of orthopedic cases since they are considered delicate.
The medical camp was initiated by one of our own Consultant Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Samuel Ndanya through the Kenya Orthopedic Association.
He was joined by 17 volunteer orthopedic surgeons, four volunteer theatre nurses and four volunteer anesthetics from outside the country.
In addition, 15 nurses who cut short their leave to volunteer for the three-day camp.
The team has been preparing for the medical camp for the last two months by sourcing for equipment like beds from the nearest Hospitals and dispensaries.
The Nyahururu and Kimanjo Hospitals have lent medical equipment that will enable the Referral Hospital to run 4 concurrent theatres and an extra for emergencies.
The Hospital has set up 4 theatres with each having at least 4 surgeons who handle 4 to 5 cases a day. By the end of the second day, a total number of 33 surgeries had been successfully performed. These included 18 adult males, 8 adult females and 7 children. Eighteen patients were scheduled for operation on Friday.
According to Mr Wilson Gitonga, the Nurse Manager at the Nanyuki Teaching and Referral Hospital, all the surgeries were major and achieved a remarkable 100% success rate.
He attributed this to the high expertise and dedication of all the medical staff involved. Among the notable surgeries were two which involved a total hip replacement and two others who had a joint knee replacement.
Other surgeries standing out included that of a two-year old child with syndactyl where release was done, a 36-year old male who had a non- union left ulna fracture where open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) and plating was done. Other patients treated had chronic ankle dislocations, fractured metacarpals, malleolar and femur fracture among others. All the patients were recovering well according to Mr. Gitonga.
The camp received financial support from the Kenya Medical Association, Kenya Progressive Nurses Association, Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya and other well-wishers including local firms and businesses. Most notably was the Sportsman Arms Hotel which provided 10 complimentary beds and breakfast for the three days and the students of Nanyuki High School who donated blood (more than 150 units against a target of 200) to support this camp and the hospital in general.
The County Government through the Department of Health financed a large number of supplies for the camp. The Hospital thanked the patients for having faith in them to perform such kinds of surgeries that are often performed in level 6 hospital.
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Ordinarily, it would have taken doctors at the hospital six months to operate such number of orthopedic cases since they are considered delicate.
The medical camp was initiated by one of our own Consultant Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Samuel Ndanya through the Kenya Orthopedic Association.
He was joined by 17 volunteer orthopedic surgeons, four volunteer theatre nurses and four volunteer anesthetics from outside the country.
In addition, 15 nurses who cut short their leave to volunteer for the three-day camp.
The team has been preparing for the medical camp for the last two months by sourcing for equipment like beds from the nearest Hospitals and dispensaries.
The Nyahururu and Kimanjo Hospitals have lent medical equipment that will enable the Referral Hospital to run 4 concurrent theatres and an extra for emergencies.
The Hospital has set up 4 theatres with each having at least 4 surgeons who handle 4 to 5 cases a day. By the end of the second day, a total number of 33 surgeries had been successfully performed. These included 18 adult males, 8 adult females and 7 children. Eighteen patients were scheduled for operation on Friday.
According to Mr Wilson Gitonga, the Nurse Manager at the Nanyuki Teaching and Referral Hospital, all the surgeries were major and achieved a remarkable 100% success rate.
He attributed this to the high expertise and dedication of all the medical staff involved. Among the notable surgeries were two which involved a total hip replacement and two others who had a joint knee replacement.
Other surgeries standing out included that of a two-year old child with syndactyl where release was done, a 36-year old male who had a non- union left ulna fracture where open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) and plating was done. Other patients treated had chronic ankle dislocations, fractured metacarpals, malleolar and femur fracture among others. All the patients were recovering well according to Mr. Gitonga.
The camp received financial support from the Kenya Medical Association, Kenya Progressive Nurses Association, Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya and other well-wishers including local firms and businesses. Most notably was the Sportsman Arms Hotel which provided 10 complimentary beds and breakfast for the three days and the students of Nanyuki High School who donated blood (more than 150 units against a target of 200) to support this camp and the hospital in general.
The County Government through the Department of Health financed a large number of supplies for the camp. The Hospital thanked the patients for having faith in them to perform such kinds of surgeries that are often performed in level 6 hospital.
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