A two-month-old boy, Jacob Mochama is among beneficiaries of a week-long free medical/surgical camp sponsored by the Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital (KTRH).

The minor today underwent a successful 45-minute corrective surgery to repair his cleft lip and cleft palate. Master Mochama is among hundreds of patients who have been screened in the first two days of the medical camp.His mother, Lucy Mochama, expressed her gratitude to the Kisii County Government and Help a Child Face Tomorrow (HCFT) foundation for organizing the camp.

“I am very happy because my son has received this help from doctors. He can now grow like other children,” said a delighted Mrs. Mochama.

Dr Meshack Ong’uti, the lead surgeon in the medical camp said the condition occurs once in every 700 births in Kenya adding that each corrective surgery operation costs up to KShs. 300,000 depending on the hospital.

Dr Onguti said there is a huge demand of such services at rural hospitals, as many locals cannot afford the cost of treatment.

The hospital’s Medical Superintendent Dr Enock Ondari said by today, the team of highly specialized doctors had screened 100 patients and admitted 40 for operations.

“We expect to conduct 70-100 general, gynecology and Maxillofacial (cleft palate), surgeries by the end of the week,” said Dr Ondari.
He said the doctors had conducted other surgeries for patient with cases of prostate cancer, hernia, and plastic surgeries.

County Executive Committee (CEC) member in charge of Health Services Sarah Omache told the community to shun such retrogressive beliefs and urged parents with such conditions to take advantage of the free medical camp.

He thanked the Governor James Ongwae for dedicating more resources towards health sector and called on locals to seek early treatment to avoid preventable complications.