A delegation of specialized surgeons from Morocco has arrived in Kenya for a week-long medical mission aimed at helping children with hearing impairments.
In a statement on Monday, November 3, the Ministry of Health confirmed that the visiting doctors will be performing Cochlear Implant surgeries at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) throughout the week.
"A team of surgeons from the Kingdom of Morocco has arrived in Kenya for a week-long medical mission to perform Cochlear Implant surgeries on more than 50 children with hearing impairments," the statement read.
According to the Ministry, the team will be working hand in hand with local specialists throughout the program.
"The visiting specialists will work alongside local ENT experts from Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) between 3rd and 7th November 2025, in a collaborative effort to restore hearing and improve the quality of life for affected children," the statement added.
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Cochlear implant surgery is a medical procedure designed to help people with severe or profound hearing loss.
The surgery involves placing an electronic device that directly stimulates the auditory nerve, allowing the person to perceive sound.
A cochlear implant has two main parts; the external part which is worn behind the ear and the internal part which is surgically implanted under the skin and into the inner ear.
The operation is performed under general anesthesia and usually takes about two to three hours.
During the procedure, the surgeon makes a small incision behind the ear and creates an opening in the mastoid bone to access the cochlea.
The implant electrodes are carefully inserted into the cochlea, and the receiver part of the device is placed under the skin.
The incision is then closed, and the patient is allowed to recover. The implant is activated two to six weeks after the surgery.
This comes days after the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) 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.
"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.
