Busia County Referral Hospital (BCRH) has become the first health institution in Western Kenya to conduct knee replacement surgery. Two patients underwent successful surgeries in the exercise led by American Dr. Jerry Cooper who is remembered for carrying a knee surgery on former Harambee Stars and AFC Leopards striker Dr JJ Masiga.
Dr. Cooper was assisted by Kenyan born Dr Daniel Odipo and his daughter Cyndi Odipo. The surgical camp was done at the invitation of Busia County and arrangements made through Busia resident Professor Joseph Mulimba and Busia County Orthopaedic Dr. Daniel Alusula.
Addressing the press after the second surgery that took one-and-half hours, Dr Odipo said knee replacement was only a preserve of Kenyatta National Hospital for the last 21 years.
“We have been doing total knee replacements (TKR) at Kenyatta for the past 21 years and we thought that we should branch out to Counties where the needy patients who couldn’t afford to come to KNH can be reached and also benefit from this service. This service alone is focused at replacing knees that have been damaged over time through wear and tear; as a cost factor many patients cannot afford because of limiting factors of finance. TKR normally will cost about Ksh500, 000 but today we are here with in-plants and products we use and we are doing for free,” he said.
Dr Odipo urged those with dire need to take advantage of the free exercise, noting that those with arthritic needs can benefit from this service.