Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital

11/10/2026

JOOTRH Unveils Mental Health Clinic, Plans 50-Bed Inpatient Unit

Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) has unveiled a fully fledged Mental Health Clinic at its Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) Centre, alongside plans to establish a 50-bed inpatient unit, with 25 beds each for male and female patients.

Speaking during the World Mental Health Day celebrations, Principal Secretary for Medical Services Dr Ouma Oluga, whose speech was delivered by Mr James Ntabo, called for compassion, active listening and support for people experiencing mental health challenges. He emphasised that mental health is an essential component of overall health and urged institutions to address stigma that discourages people from seeking care.

JOOTRH Director of Clinical Services Dr Paul Mitei said the proposed inpatient unit would strengthen access to specialised mental healthcare in the region. He also called for routine mental health screening to promote early detection, timely intervention and appropriate referral.

The new clinic will offer psychiatric assessment and treatment, counselling, psychotherapy, medication management, child and adolescent mental health services, substance-use treatment and rehabilitation, crisis intervention, su***de-prevention support, and trauma and bereavement counselling.

JOOTRH Chief Executive Officer Dr Joshua Clinton Okise reaffirmed the hospital’s commitment to expanding mental health services. Drawing from his family’s experience with mental health challenges, he highlighted the effects of stigma and judgement on patients and their families. He also called for mental healthcare to be considered in reviews of the Social Health Authority benefit package to improve access to specialised services.

Held under the theme “Lived Experiences Heard: Real Voices, Real Change,” the celebrations highlighted the experiences of people living with mental health conditions and the importance of incorporating patients’ and families’ perspectives into care.

JOOTRH psychiatrists Dr Linda Nyamute and Dr Victor Omache urged healthcare workers and the public to listen without judgement and seek to understand those experiencing distress.

The event brought together Kisumu County Executive Committee Member for Health Dr Gregory Ganda, healthcare professionals, students, partners, caregivers, patients and members of the public. It was preceded by an awareness walk from Patel Flats Roundabout to JOOTRH to promote mental wellness and challenge stigma.

10/10/2026

10/10/2026

Dr. Ouma Oluga Calls on JOOTRH Staff to Strengthen Patient Care

Principal Secretary for Medical Services Dr. Ouma Oluga has challenged staff at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) to uphold professional discipline, compassion and accountability amid recent public concerns about patients’ experiences at the facility.

Speaking during a staff meeting at the hospital, Dr. Oluga urged healthcare workers to reflect on complaints raised on social media, establish their accuracy and address any shortcomings.
“Not every account of those assertions is accurate. Not every account is false,” he said, emphasising that healthcare institutions must not ignore concerns raised by the community.
He challenged staff to reconnect with the values that drew them to the profession and ensure that every interaction with patients and their families reflects dignity, empathy and professionalism.

“If we cannot treat patients the way we ourselves would love to be treated, we don't belong,” he said, calling for a renewed commitment to value-based healthcare.
Dr. Oluga noted that patient experience extends beyond clinical treatment to every point of contact, from security personnel at the entrance to cleaners and clinical teams. He called for stronger teamwork, staff training and accountability to improve service delivery.

Highlighting the regional burden of sickle cell disease, the PS said approximately 4,000 of the 7,000 affected individuals he cited were in the region. He noted that patients often endure difficult journeys to Nairobi for treatment, sometimes waiting one or two months for regular therapy.

He said JOOTRH’s elevation to a Level 6A national teaching and referral hospital was intended to expand access to specialised healthcare closer to the people, including sickle cell services and complex surgical procedures.

“This facility is a beacon of hope for this region, but it must not just be a beacon of hope. It must produce those outcomes that we intend to produce,” he said.

Dr. Oluga assured the community that the Ministry had heard its concerns and would support improvements while holding staff accountable. He emphasised that restoring public confidence requires action, not words.
Also present were Ministry of Health officials, including Secretary of Administration Mr. James Ntabo; Prof. Stephen Ogendo, representing the JOOTRH Board Chair; Chief Executive Officer Dr. Joshua Clinton Okise; and members of the hospital’s leadership.

08/10/2026

JOOTRH NOTES PUBLIC CONCERNS AND HAS COMMENCED INVESTIGATIONS.

08/10/2026

JOOTRH Staff Plant 100 Trees on Fourth Day of Customer Service Week

Chief Executive Officer calls on staff to uphold core values and go the extra mile.

Staff of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) marked the fourth day of Customer Service Week by planting 100 trees at the hospital, in an exercise led by the Ag Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Joshua Clinton Okise.

Ashoka trees were planted along the walkway leading to the administration block. Heads of divisions and their members were each required to plant a fruit tree, including avocado and fenesi (jackfruit), among other fruits. Each division planted a tree, in keeping with the new government policy that institutions should plant trees.

Speaking during the activity, Dr. Okise called on all staff to adhere to the hospital's core values, summarised in the acronym TACTIQ-P: Transparency, Accountability, Compassion, Teamwork, Integrity, Quality and Professionalism.

He encouraged staff to remain steadfast in their duties. "If what you are doing is right, then do it with all you have," he said.

Dr. Okise noted that JOOTRH is making progress every day, but that lasting change does not happen overnight. He said the hospital is growing into a Level 6 facility, improving step by step.

He affirmed the hospital's continued commitment to excellent clinical outcomes. While acknowledging that gaps remain, he said JOOTRH is steadily making progress and is not the hospital it used to be.

This year's Customer Service Week is being celebrated under the theme "Going the Extra Mile." Dr. Okise urged staff to live out the theme by going beyond the call of duty to bring health solutions to the people they serve.
JOOTRH extends gratitude to Equity Bank for donating tree seedlings.

07/10/2026

JOOTRH Puts Mental Health Messages into Practice Through Staff Support

As part of its ongoing Mental Health Week activities ahead of World Mental Health Day, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) has continued to promote conversations on mental well-being, su***de prevention, listening without judgement and seeking help during times of distress.

The activities have provided staff with an opportunity to discuss mental health concerns, recognise signs of distress and understand the importance of empathy, support and early intervention.

These messages have also been put into practice following the sudden and traumatic death of a staff member under circumstances involving mob justice arising from mistaken identity.

The incident had a profound emotional impact on colleagues in the Farewell Home Department, who were directly involved in receiving and handling the remains of their colleague. The circumstances surrounding the death, coupled with the nature of their work and regular exposure to death and grief, placed an additional psychological burden on the team.

Recognising the need for immediate support, the hospital facilitated psychological debriefing and counselling for the affected staff. Qualified psychologists were dispatched to provide a safe space for the team to process the experience, express their emotions and receive professional support.

The intervention was subsequently appreciated by the Farewell Home team, who thanked hospital management and the psychologists for responding promptly and compassionately to their request for support. They said the intervention offered comfort and reinforced that their well-being matters.

The support reflects the central message of this year’s Mental Health Week activities that mental health requires listening, understanding and timely support, especially when people are facing difficult experiences.

For a workforce routinely exposed to grief, trauma and emotionally demanding situations, creating opportunities to speak openly, access professional support and care for one another remains an important part of promoting mental well-being at JOOTRH.

07/10/2026

ENT SURGICAL CAMP 2026: Ear and Hearing Care at JOOTRH

Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) is holding an ENT Surgical Camp from 9th to 13th November 2026, dedicated to ear and hearing conditions.

If you or a loved one has been living with an ear problem or hearing difficulty, this is your chance to get expert care.

✅ Screening is ongoing every day, Monday to Friday, at the JOOTRH ENT Clinic
✅ Come early to be screened and assessed for the camp
✅ SHA membership is mandatory, so make sure yours is active before you come
📞 For more details, call 0727 843 485 or 0703 708 320
Please share this with family, friends and neighbours who could benefit. Good hearing changes lives.

07/10/2026

JOOTRH, Kenya Red Cross partner on Ebola preparedness
Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) has partnered with the Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) to prepare for and respond to Ebola, as Kisumu faces the risk of imported cases.

Under the partnership, the two institutions will screen people visiting JOOTRH facilities and strengthen hand hygiene within the hospital.

The arrangement was discussed at a meeting chaired by JOOTRH Director for Clinical Services Dr Paul Mitei. It was attended by members of the hospital's Disease Surveillance and Outbreak Committee and the Kenya Red Cross Kisumu office team.

A presentation by Kenya Red Cross noted that JOOTRH is a referral facility serving the whole of Western Kenya and borders high-risk areas, which makes it vulnerable to the importation and spread of Ebola. They noted that Kisumu County is in a major transit zone, with an international airport and illegal entry points that raise the risk of imported cases.

They also identified gaps, including limited systematic risk communication and community engagement on Ebola at community and facility levels, and a lack of continuous high-volume screening, triage and isolation support during an outbreak, which could overwhelm clinical staff.

KRCS will deploy trained volunteers to screen all clients visiting JOOTRH facilities, combined with risk communication and community engagement messages. The two institutions will also activate facility- and community-based surveillance and set up rapid referral pathways from communities into the hospital.

They will take part jointly in Rapid Response Teams and hold joint training and simulation exercises. KRCS Safe and Dignified Burial teams will be deployed in coordination with hospital and County Ministry of Health protocols. A technical working group of KRCS and JOOTRH will coordinate preparedness beyond the current threat.

The partners said the aim is to detect and isolate suspected cases early, protect patients, staff and the community, and build surge capacity that can be activated within hours for Ebola or any future public health emergency, easing the workload on hospital staff.

07/10/2026

A Family’s Appreciation Beyond Loss

During this Customer Service Week, the Newborn Unit (NBU) at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) received a heartfelt appreciation from the family of the late Levi-Remi Mitch Watembo, who passed away at 85 days old after a prolonged battle with a complex congenital heart condition.

Levi-Remi was born on 25 June 2026 and was admitted to JOOTRH at four days old as a referral from Tayiba Medical Centre. He was diagnosed with Truncus arteriosus Type 1 with persistent pulmonary hypertension and a ventricular septal defect (VSD).

The NBU team worked closely with the family to stabilise the baby and coordinate care as plans were made for onward referral outside the country. However, Levi-Remi remained critically ill and could not tolerate being off oxygen, a requirement identified by the cardiology team before transfer. During his stay in the NBU, he required resuscitation on three occasions.

Despite the loss of their son, his parents, Christopher Watembo, and his wife returned to the NBU to express their gratitude to the nurses and doctors who cared for Levi-Remi. The family marked the occasion with a cake-cutting ceremony, acknowledging the team’s tireless efforts and support throughout their difficult experience.

The family and staff were also offered prayers and shared a word from Scripture, providing a moment of comfort and reflection.

For the Watembo family, the appreciation was not about the outcome, but about the care, compassion and support they received along the way. Their gesture was a reminder that quality customer service in healthcare extends beyond treatment; it is also about standing with families through some of their most difficult moments.

07/10/2026

TONIGHT! | MENTAL HEALTH TALKSHOW

The conversation is happening tonight! Join Loice Omondi, Mental Health Champion, and Calvin Odhiambo, Clinical Officer, as they discuss mental health, wellness and the importance of seeking support.

Tonight | Wednesday, 7 October 2026
7:30 PM – 8:30 PM
LIVE ON Radio Lake Victoria 92.1 FM

Tune in, listen, learn and be part of the conversation.