Kilifi County marked a significant technological milestone in healthcare on January 17th ,2025 with the successful performance of its first-ever laparoscopic surgical operations at the Kilifi County Referral Hospital.
The surgery is a minimally invasive procedure that uses small incisions and a camera to access the abdomen or pelvis. It offers benefits such as reduced pain, faster recovery, and smaller scars. This technique is commonly used for procedures like gallbladder removal, appendectomies, and hernia repairs.
The procedure was led by Dr Adrian Park, a renowned surgeon from John Hopkins University, USA, who used the occasion to train local surgeons on the use of the new technology. Three surgical operations were conducted.
Speaking to journalists after conducting the first surgery at the hospital’s medical complex, Dr. Park highlighted the benefits of the advanced surgical method, noting that it allows patients to recover quickly with fewer complications, enabling them to return to their families and go about their businesses sooner than with open surgery.
“It’s an important day for Kilifi County, as we perform our first laparoscopic cases, which are minimally invasive. This represents a new era in surgical technology and techniques available to the good people of Kilifi County,” he said.
Friday’s event was a follow-up on surgeons who had undergone training at the Coast General Hospital in Mombasa County to introduce the new technology at the County Referral Hospital, as well as the Malindi and Mariakani Sub County Hospitals.
Governor Gideon Mung’aro expressed his commitment to advancing healthcare in Kilifi County by investing in modern surgical technology. He noted that his administration would allocate funds in the next supplementary budget to purchase three laparoscopic machines and ensure the training of nurses and biomedical engineers on how to handle the equipment.
“This will help us to do away with open surgery. Open surgery should be only for cesarean sections; all others should be through this new technology,” the governor stated, adding that other areas have had the privilege of using the new technology for years.
“My mother underwent laparoscopic surgery nine years ago and she is doing very well, yet we in the county are introducing the same now,” he said.
Mr. Mung’aro also revealed plans to commission a CT scan machine and an incinerator within the next three weeks. He also emphasized the importance of equipping all county hospitals with modern medical equipment and ensuring there are enough qualified personnel to operate them.
“From June this year, we want to equip all our hospitals, but as we do so, we also want to equip our personnel with the requisite expertise so that we do not purchase equipment that will lie idle because there are no experts to handle them,” he said.
County Health Executive Committee Member Peter Mwarogo said the success of the initial laparoscopic procedure was made possible through the collaboration of local surgeons and international expertise.
He said one laparoscopic machine costs about Sh20 million but said the county government was ready to incur the cost for the sake of its residents’ healthcare needs.
He emphasized the importance of training for local surgeons, who are now using laparoscopy, a modern technology that reduces operation time, pain, and recovery period.
