Operation International, in partnership with Vihiga Teaching and Referral Hospital held its third edition of a free surgical camp./PHOTO; Operation International
Many people in rural Kenya live with treatable medical conditions for years without receiving care not because treatment does not exist, but because it is unaffordable or inaccessible.
Over time, these conditions become long term burdens that affect health, livelihoods and dignity.
In many households, the responsibility of care quietly falls on a parent, sibling or relative who carries both the emotional and financial weight of a loved one’s illness.
“My name is Maximillar Khilasi, mother to Adelia Xylia,” she says.
Her daughter was born healthy but at around two years old a small swelling appeared on the left side of her neck.
“At first, we did not take it seriously but my husband and I became worried when the swelling continued to grow over time,” she recalls.
The family first sought care in Nairobi, where they were told the child had issues with white blood cells and was given medication. There was no improvement.
“The swelling kept increasing and my worry as a mother grew every day.”
Further referrals led them to a private facility where consultation alone cost KSh 5,000 excluding tests. At Coptic Hospital after several examinations Adelia was diagnosed with cystic hygroma and recommended for surgery costing about KSh 300,000 far beyond the family’s reach.
“We continued seeking help moving from hospital to hospital,” she says. “At Kikuyu Hospital she had an MRI but we still could not afford treatment.”
At some point exhaustion and uncertainty set in.
“I felt helpless. I kept questioning myself as a mother wondering if I had done something wrong.”
Relief eventually came through a free surgical camp at Vihiga Teaching and Referral Hospital.
“My daughter underwent surgery successfully,” she says. “I am grateful for her recovery.”
Her advice to other caregivers is simple. “Do not lose hope. Keep seeking help. Sometimes the support we need comes when we least expect it.”
Two Decades of Caregiving
In Mungoma Ward Vihiga County Patrick Ndegwa has spent more than 20 years caring for his brother Evans Kizala Ndegwa.
His journey began in 1999 when Evans started experiencing pain in his gums while still in high school.
“Later we noticed swelling on the left side of his face. At first it seemed minor but it kept getting worse,” he says.
With limited resources the family initially turned to indigenous medicine before moving through multiple hospitals including Vihiga County Referral Hospital Busia Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital and Kenyatta National Hospital.
“At times we had no choice,” Patrick says. “When money was not there we tried indigenous medicine but it did not stop the illness from advancing.”
As the condition worsened Evans struggled to speak eat and interact. The family also faced stigma.
“Some people avoided him or stared at him differently. It was emotionally painful,” Patrick recalls.
Despite years of setbacks hope returned when the family accessed a surgical camp supported by Vihiga Teaching and Referral Hospital and Operation International. Evans underwent successful facial reconstructive surgery.
“I am grateful because I could not have afforded this surgery on my own,” Patrick says. “Now he looks different and we finally feel life can move forward.”
Specialized Care
Operation International, in partnership with Vihiga Teaching and Referral Hospital, held its third edition of a free surgical camp that brought together international specialists, local healthcare workers, and patients from different parts of Kenya.
The camp focused on providing free specialized surgical care, while also strengthening the skills of local medical teams through training and hands-on mentorship.
The initiative also highlighted the growing demand for specialized healthcare services, as patients traveled from multiple counties including Vihiga, Kakamega, Kisumu, Nandi, and Narok.
Many of these patients would otherwise have gone untreated due to cost and limited access to specialists.
The CEO of Vihiga Teaching and Referral Hospital, Titus Mumia, emphasized that working alongside Operation International has significantly improved access to specialized surgical care while also strengthening the skills of hospital staff.
“This initiative has transformed how we deliver surgical services in our facility,” he said.
“It has strengthened our teams, and more patients are now accessing c
are that would have been out of reach.”
He added that during this edition of the surgical camp, 94 patients were screened and 42 surgeries were successfully performed.
He further stated that the collaboration with Operation International has been a fantastic initiative.
“When the idea was first shared with us, we felt it was the right direction to take. Through these three camps, we have assisted many patients, thanks to the specialists who volunteered their services.”
“I would like to encourage the continuation of this collaboration, and we are hopeful that in a few weeks we will have another camp. We will identify the specific cases to be handled together with the visiting team. The initiative continues to attract many specialists and healthcare staff who are willing to come and support the community.”
Building Skills Beyond Surgery
Ian Otinga, Nurse and coordinator for Operation International in Kenya, explained that the surgical mission is designed not only to treat patients but also to build long-term capacity within the health system.
Before arriving in Vihiga, the team had been at Kenyatta University Teaching and Referral Hospital in Nairobi, where they performed eight open surgeries alongside capacity-building sessions for local medical staff.
“The goal is sustainability,” Ian said. “We are not just here to operate, we are here to train, to mentor, and to build confidence in local teams.”
“In Nairobi, we build the foundation through both surgery and teaching,” he added.
“By the time we come to county hospitals, the learning continues through hands-on clinical experience.”
He further noted that the mission is set to return in November to reassess progress, continue mentorship, and strengthen skills already transferred during previous visits.
Angelica Molen, a registered nurse from Chicago, USA, described her experience as transformative, especially working in a low-resource setting where creativity and teamwork are essential.
“My experience here has shown me that excellent nursing care is possible even with limited resources,” she said. “You learn to adapt quickly, think critically, and rely heavily on teamwork to ensure patient safety.”
Dr. Cheryl Carandang, an ENT and head and neck surgeon from Los Angeles, shared that her journey with Operation International began after participating in earlier surgical missions where she witnessed firsthand the impact specialized care could have on underserved communities.
Inspired by that experience, she later formed her own team within the organization with a strong focus on surgical education, mentorship, and long-term skills transfer for local healthcare workers.
“I realized I wanted to do more than just perform surgeries,” she explained.
“As an ENT and head and neck surgeon, I saw that many patients were living with conditions that could be treated, but access to specialized care was limited. I wanted to help build a system where local teams feel confident managing these cases independently over time.”
She emphasized that beyond surgery, the mission focused on structured training where local surgeons, nurses, anesthetists, and theatre staff worked side by side with visiting specialists.
She further emphasized that the vision for Operation International is to conduct multiple missions each year and build long-term, consistent relationships with the same local teams.
She noted the importance of mutual trust, where feedback from local healthcare workers is taken seriously and used to continuously improve the quality of care and training.
The goal is a sustained model of collaboration on multiple trips over time, with multiple leaders working together to strengthen systems and better meet local needs.
Together, these stories reflect a shared reality across rural Kenya and informal settlements: many patients live for years with treatable conditions simply because care is out of reach.
Yet through partnerships, surgical camps, and training programs, hope is being restored one patient, one family, and one procedure at a time.
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