Governor Nyong’o undergoes spinal surgery at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Hospital

Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o has revealed he underwent spinal surgery at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) in Kisumu on Friday.

The county leader, in a tweet shared Monday afternoon, thanked the team of doctors for a successful procedure.

“On Friday, July 14, 2023, in the afternoon, I was admitted and had a very successful spinal surgery at @jootrhkisumu. Everything has gone extremely well and I am grateful to the hospital CEO, Dr. George Rae and his team for taking very good care of me,” he wrote.

Governor Nyong’o termed the operation an eye-opener to him that despite limited resources, the Kenyan public healthcare system has the capacity to treat some conditions patients opt to seek care elsewhere.

“It is now very clear to me that even with the existing resources, both human and technical, we have the capacity to treat conditions that we sometimes shy away from and end up spending huge personal resources elsewhere,” the governor said.

“Thank you @jootrhkisumu for literally saving my back!”

On Friday, July 14, 2023, in the afternoon, I was admitted and had a very successful spinal surgery at @jootrhkisumu . Everything has gone extremely well and I am grateful to the hospital CEO, Dr. George Rae and his team for taking very good care of me. pic.twitter.com/ICV3rhfswf

Back and spine surgery is often used to treat conditions such as spinal deformity, spinal infections, trauma and spine tumours, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.

It may involve an open spine surgery procedure, where the surgeon makes an incision along the backbone to access the bones of the spine and the spinal cord.

In other cases, minimally invasive techniques are used, which involve a smaller incision and the insertion of a tube, through which the surgeon inserts small surgical instruments to work on the spine.