Transforming Lives Through Free Surgical Care: A Milestone in Makueni County
By Florence Kamaitha
The Rotary Club of Nairobi Magharibi in partnership with the Surgical Society of Kenya and the Kenya Society for the Blind runs a free surgical and cataract camp for Kenyans who need surgical intervention but cannot afford it.
The team ran a successful five-day camp in October 2024, with the support of the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor, Michigan USA, a glimpse into what is possible when innovation and compassion meet. The camp provided life-changing care for lipomas, goiter, hernias, cataracts, brain surgeries and many more, to more than 500 underserved Kenyans over the five days.
The camp was held at Makueni Referral Hospital with great support from the County Government of Makueni who supported the camp with pharmaceuticals, use of the theatres and their staff. The camp was also supported the Rotary Club of Machakos In-Formation, who ran a successful blood drive in support of the camp.
Addressing Health Inequity
Kenya is one of those countries that are highly burdened by inequities in access to healthcare, with rural settings lacking expert surgeons and medical supplies of all kinds. This camp, therefore, started the endeavor to close that gap by screening over 1,000 patients and providing specialty care to patients who had waited many years for treatment. With involvement by over 80 medical professionals, 30 Rotarians, and the collection of more than 50 pints of blood, the camp was a true model of community-focused health.
Innovation at the Heart of Surgery
This year’s camp was distinguished by the use of cutting-edge surgical technologies, including laparoscopic towers and iScalpels, which enabled minimally invasive procedures.
These advancements reduced recovery times and minimized complications, offering patients the highest standard of care in a resource-limited setting.
Key partners including Proximie, Laparoscopy on Wheels, and Medtronics, were instrumental in this success.
Proximie’s remote guidance technology allowed expert surgeons to assist virtually, while Laparoscopy on Wheels supplied mobile laparoscopic equipment that brought advanced procedures to Makueni. Together, these partnerships elevated the quality of surgical care provided, setting new benchmarks for such camps.
Empower the Next Generation of Surgeons
One of the major facets of the camp was the teaching component, conducted with much valuable training of medical students from the University of Nairobi, Kenya Methodist University, and Kenya Medical Training College-Machakos. It is a program that utilized a number of hands-on learning opportunities with mentorship and exposure to rural health challenges.
In so doing, the camp also scaled up its capacity by engaging students in active patient screenings and minor procedures, thus encouraging a new generation of providers to serve the neediest of all.
Cataract Surgeries and Eye Care: Restoring Sight, Changing Lives
The Kenya Society for the Blind was very instrumental, conducting 500 eye check-ups and restoring vision to 181 patients through cataract surgery and glaucoma surgery. For many, this was their first clear sight in over a decade and gave them significantly better lives.
Addressing Complex Neurological and Thyroid Cases
With the support of the Brain Tumor Association of Kenya, the camp also readied itself to address intricate neurological cases, giving specialized care to long-neglected patients. Moreover, the camp also highlighted the high incidence of thyroid goiter cases in Makueni County and treated over 40 cases of the condition.
Consequently, arrangements are being made to embark on long-term research collaborations for treatment with a view to semantically addressing the condition.
Community Impact and Recognition
The Rotary District 9212 Governor, Dr. Joe Kamau, toured the camp and underlined Rotary’s commitment to impactful health projects. His presence brought inspiration to the medical teams and once more reminded us of the sustainable healthcare initiative.
Makueni County Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr, a long time Rotarian witnessed the surgeries and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to expanding medical outreach programs, vowing to bring more initiatives like this to Makueni in order to alleviate the burden of hospital bills for residents. He said this will go a long way in promoting the county as a medical tourism destination.
