Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o has lauded the elevation of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) to a national referral facility, calling it a transformative move for healthcare in the Lake Region and beyond.
The decision, approved by the Cabinet in a meeting held at State House, Nairobi, marks a significant milestone in strengthening healthcare service delivery in Western Kenya. With this new designation, JOOTRH will now receive enhanced resources and funding to further expand its medical services. Governor Nyong’o expressed his gratitude to President William Ruto and the Cabinet for approving the upgrade, which he termed as a step towards equitable healthcare access across the country.
“With its new status, JOOTRH will receive adequate resources to continue expanding its service delivery in the Lake Region and beyond,” Nyong’o stated, emphasizing the facility’s growing importance in the national healthcare landscape.
In a statement to the media, Nyong’o also commended the leadership of JOOTRH for spearheading reforms that have improved healthcare delivery at the institution. He specifically lauded the hospital’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Richard Lesiyampe, the staff, and the Board of Management for their dedication to enhancing service provision.
“I sincerely thank the JOOTRH Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Richard Lesiyampe, his staff, and the hospital’s Board of Management for undertaking various reforms that have significantly improved service delivery,” he said.
JOOTRH, named after Kenya’s first Vice President, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, was commissioned in 1969 and designated as a Level 6 facility in 2024 following a joint assessment by the Kenya Health Professional Oversight Authority (KHPOA), the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentist Council (KMPDC), and the Nursing Council of Kenya. The hospital offers specialized medical services, including intensive care, oncology, functional theaters, and laboratory services, and houses a 13-bed ICU and 11 operational theaters.
Despite its commendable infrastructure, the assessment team noted that the facility requires additional staff to meet the increasing patient demand. Governor Nyong’o assured that the county government remains committed to supporting JOOTRH through capacity-building initiatives to enhance its service delivery.
The elevation of JOOTRH places it on the same level as Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), further strengthening Kenya’s healthcare network and ensuring improved medical access for residents of the Western region and beyond.
