Vihiga: Residents of Vihiga County have benefited from a three-day free surgical camp to the relief of families who would otherwise incur high medical costs. The camp, held at Vihiga Teaching and Referral Hospital (VTRH), was organized in partnership with Operation International, an international medical team committed to providing specialized healthcare services.
According to Kenya News Agency, during the exercise, a team of medical personnel led by Coordinator, Ian Otinga, paid a courtesy call to the Governor’s office while the camp was ongoing. Speaking during the visit, the Governor urged residents to take full advantage of the initiative, noting that the procedures offered would ordinarily cost thousands of shillings, making the camp a significant intervention for many households.
Vihiga County has continued to strengthen its healthcare services through its partnership with Operation International. The initiative marks the third consecutive year of collaboration between the County Government and the international medical team, aimed at providing specialized surgical services to residents at no cost. To further enhance healthcare delivery, the County Government has directed the Department of Health Services to develop a structured framework for collaboration with Operation International.
The plan includes establishing a long-term partnership, setting up a research centre, and developing a telemedicine centre at VTRH as part of efforts to position the facility as a centre of excellence. This year’s surgical camp also places emphasis on capacity building through teaching and skills exchange among medical professionals. Procedures conducted during the camp include treatment of head and neck tumours, goitre, cleft lip and palate repair, neck masses, and lipomas.
The visiting team comprises two surgeons, two anaesthesiologists, three nurses, a specialised theatre technologist, and two head and neck surgeons.
