By Nuru Salim.
Samburu Subcounty Hospital in Kwale County has recorded another major medical milestone after successfully conducting its first-ever open prostatectomy and cystolithotomy surgery.
The groundbreaking procedure, which was carried out on a 71-year-old patient involves the removal of an enlarged prostate and bladder stones to treat a condition that can cause severe urinary problems.
In this surgery, doctors remove the enlarged part of the prostate blocking urine flow and extract hard mineral deposits (stones) from the bladder. It helps restore normal urination, relieve pain, and prevent serious complications like infections or kidney damage, significantly improving the patient’s quality health.
For over four years, Kombo Mwero, the 71-year-old patient, had struggled with the debilitating complications arising from prostate enlargement and bladder stones, seeking medical assistance across multiple facilities without success. Financial constraints repeatedly drowned his hopes of receiving the necessary medical intervention.
His relief finally came through support from the Social Health Authority (SHA) under the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), which catered for his surgery and post-operative care, covering costs amounting to Ksh. 232,000.
A team of highly skilled medical professionals spearheaded the life-saving procedure, demonstrating the hospital’s growing capacity and professionalism in handling intricate surgeries.
Under the leadership of lead surgeon Dr. Kiplagat and assistant surgeon Dr. Jasper Mriphe, the operation was executed seamlessly, with anesthetists Baraka Munga and Pascal Otieno ensuring the patient’s stability throughout. Scrub nurse Thaddeus Malesi played a pivotal role in maintaining the sterile environment critical to the surgery’s success.
The hospital’s surgical prowess has been steadily gaining recognition, with previous cases further cementing its growing reputation as a center of medical excellence.
In a remarkable case, Masika Chirema Dzanu, a 51-year-old woman from Bengo, Lunga Lunga Subcounty, received treatment at the facility after living with a painful 5kg growth on her back for eight years.
Despite seeking help from several hospitals, including Lunga Lunga Subcounty Hospital and Msambweni Hospital, she was unable to find a solution until she was finally treated at Samburu Subcounty Hospital.
Additionally, the facility recently made another breakthrough after successfully delivering a baby via cesarean section for a woman who had tragically lost 12 pregnancies in various hospitals across the Coast region. The mother, who had struggled for years, finally held her 13th child in her arms at the Samburu Subcounty Hospital.
With its recent upgrade to a Level Four facility, Samburu Subcounty Hospital has seen significant advancements in healthcare service delivery. With the specialists working around the clock to serve patients, ensuring critical medical cases that previously required referrals to far-flung hospitals can now be managed locally.
As the hospital continues to push boundaries in medical innovation, it is positioning itself as a key player in delivering specialized healthcare services in Kwale, ushering in a new era of advanced surgical interventions.
