By Joan Cheruiyot
Hundreds of patients in Bungoma County are expected to benefit from a two-week free surgical outreach programme being conducted by ICFEM Mission Hospital, an initiative aimed at reducing the growing burden of untreated surgical conditions while improving access to specialized healthcare services.
Speaking to the press on Friday during the exercise, the Medical Officer in Charge at ICFEM Mission Hospital, Dr. Christian Nabie, said the programme was organized in response to the increasing number of patients living with treatable surgical conditions due to financial constraints and limited access to specialized medical care.
“The need for specialized surgical services in our region remains high. This camp is intended to bridge that gap by ensuring patients receive timely diagnosis, treatment and follow-up care regardless of their financial status,” said Dr. Nabie.
The outreach programme is being conducted in two phases. The first week focuses on patient registration, screening, medical evaluation and diagnostic investigations, while the second phase, scheduled from July 27 to July 31, will involve surgical procedures for patients found eligible after assessment.
According to Dr. Nabie, the hospital has already screened more than 362 patients, many of whom have lived with untreated conditions for several years.
The common conditions identified include hernias, goiters, tumours, trauma-related surgical conditions and other illnesses requiring specialist intervention.
To improve the quality of diagnosis, the hospital is providing a comprehensive package of diagnostic services at no cost to patients. These include laboratory investigations, ultrasound examinations, X-ray services and CT scans for selected cases requiring advanced imaging before surgery.
“We have invested in proper patient assessment because accurate diagnosis is critical in determining the most appropriate treatment. Some patients require CT scans, laboratory investigations or ultrasound before surgery can safely be performed,” Dr. Nabie explained.
He noted that some of the conditions being treated are a result of delayed diagnosis, congenital abnormalities and injuries, emphasizing that early medical attention remains the most effective way of preventing complications.
Beyond surgery, the hospital is also encouraging residents to embrace routine health check-ups, particularly cancer screening, noting that early detection significantly improves treatment outcomes.
“We continue to witness increasing cases of cancer and other non-communicable diseases. Regular screening enables early diagnosis, which greatly increases the chances of successful treatment,” he said.
“Everything we do revolves around the wellbeing, comfort and successful recovery of our patients. That is the standard of care we strive to provide every day,” he added.
The Medical Officer further disclosed that the hospital intends to evaluate the outcomes of the current outreach programme and use the findings to improve future medical camps.
“Once this camp is complete, we shall review our performance, identify areas that require improvement and develop a roadmap for future surgical outreach programmes so that we can reach even more patients,” he said.
As the surgical camp continues, hospital officials have urged residents from Bungoma and neighbouring counties to take advantage of the free screening and treatment services, noting that timely medical intervention can prevent disability, improve quality of life and save lives.
The initiative underscores ICFEM Mission Hospital’s commitment to expanding access to affordable, quality healthcare while strengthening preventive medicine and community health across the region.
