The Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) has achieved a historic medical milestone after successfully performing its first-ever pneumonectomy.
In a statement on Saturday, November 1, the Ministry of Health confirmed that the surgery was carried out on Pamela Achieng, a mother of eight who had been suffering from a severe fungal lung infection known as aspergilloma.
"The Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) has successfully performed its first pneumonectomy, the surgical removal of an entire lung, marking a major milestone for the facility’s new Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery Unit.
"The procedure was carried out on Pamela Achieng, a mother of eight suffering from a severe fungal infection known as aspergilloma. The surgery, led by Dr. Juma Odoro and his team, was successful, and the patient has since been discharged," the statement read.
The ministry added that the procedure represents a breakthrough in the hospital’s surgical capabilities and a boost for the nation’s healthcare system.
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"This achievement underscores JOOTRH’s growing capacity to offer complex, life-saving surgeries and supports Kenya’s efforts to expand access to specialised healthcare under Universal Health Coverage (UHC)," the statement concluded.
This comes two weeks after a team of surgeons at KNH performed an operation to remove more than 20 kilograms of breast tissue from a 17-year-old girl suffering from a medical condition known as gigantomastia.
In a statement on Wednesday, October 23, the hospital said the surgery took 11 hours to complete and is believed to be one of the most extensive surgeries of its kind globally.
"A team of dedicated surgeons and medical staff at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) has given a 17-year-old girl the gift of a normal life. In a landmark procedure believed to be the largest of its kind in the world, the team successfully removed 20.86 kilograms of breast tissue from Lydia Musivi, who suffered from a severe and rare condition known as gigantomastia.
"The 11-hour surgery, performed on September 22, 2025, has freed Lydia from a debilitating condition that forced her to abandon her studies and dreams. The weight of the tissue removed was equivalent to 37% of her total body weight, a physical and emotional burden she had carried for 18 months," the statement read.
According to KNH, Lydia’s condition caused rapid and abnormal breast growth, resulting in chronic pain, skin infections, and emotional distress.
"Lydia's condition caused extreme, rapid breast growth, leading to chronic pain, skin infections, and profound emotional distress. The simple act of walking and standing up straight had become a struggle, and her hope for a future was fading," the statement added.
After the successful operation, Lydia expressed her relief and optimism about returning to school and pursuing her dreams.
"The weight is now over. I feel free, lighter, and ready to return to school. I can finally live the life I was meant to live and follow my dream of becoming a high school teacher," she said.
