LOCAL NEUROSURGERY IN KISUMU TO REDUCE COSTS AND RISKS OF TRAVEL, SAYS DR SIMON ONSONGO

Patients in Western Kenya are set to benefit from improved access to specialised neurosurgical care as medical teams continue expanding brain and spine surgery services at Aga Khan Hospital Kisumu.
Aga Khan Hospital Kisumu Medical Director Dr Simon Onsongo says providing neurosurgical services locally will spare patients the financial and medical challenges associated with travelling to Nairobi or seeking treatment abroad.
Speaking during an ongoing neurosurgery camp in Kisumu, Onsongo said patients with brain and spinal conditions can now access specialised care closer to home. He noted that bringing specialists to Kisumu also provides an opportunity to train local health workers and strengthen the region's capacity to handle complex procedures. 

The development comes as the Kisumu Neuroscience Initiative conducts specialised procedures for patients suffering from conditions affecting the brain, spine and nervous system. Among the procedures being offered is vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), an advanced treatment for some patients with drug-resistant epilepsy.
By September 9, five VNS procedures had reportedly been performed during the camp, while dozens of patients had undergone screening. Other procedures included surgeries for brain tumours, brain infections and spinal conditions. 

Onsongo said the programme is not only about treating patients but also about transferring knowledge to local medical teams.
Visiting specialists work alongside doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers in Kisumu, allowing local teams to gain experience in performing complex neurosurgical procedures.
According to reports from the camp, the initiative has helped increase the number of neurosurgical specialists available in the region. The programme began in 2017, when Kisumu did not have a resident neurosurgeon, with the first neurosurgical operations in the city performed in 2018. Since then, about 700 neurosurgical procedures have reportedly been conducted. 

Aga Khan Hospital Kisumu officially lists neurology and neurosurgery among the specialised services strengthened at the facility. The hospital has also expanded its diagnostic, surgical and critical-care capacity, supporting more complex medical procedures within the region. 

For many patients, travelling to Nairobi or outside Kenya for specialised treatment can involve transport costs, accommodation expenses and the challenge of moving while seriously ill.
Local access to neurosurgery could therefore reduce the overall burden on patients and their families while allowing them to receive follow-up care closer to home.
Health specialists involved in the initiative say the long-term goal is for neurosurgery to become a routine service in Kisumu rather than one that is only available during special medical camps. 

The expansion of neurosurgical services in Kisumu marks a significant step toward decentralising specialised healthcare in Kenya and giving patients in Western Kenya access to advanced treatment without having to travel long distances for care.