Lokitaung: Esther Ayanae, a 24-year-old woman from Riokomor Village, is the first woman to undergo the first-ever Cesarean Section (CS) surgery at Lokitaung Sub-County Hospital in Turkana North. The successful procedure marks a significant milestone for the hospital and the region’s healthcare services.
According to Kenya News Agency, the groundbreaking surgery was accomplished on April 5th at Dr Rafael Morcillo Theater in Lokitaung. Expressing her gratitude to the medical team, Ayanae shared, “I cannot thank the doctors enough; while I was asleep, they delivered my baby.” Weeks later, both Ayanae and her baby boy, who weighed 2.6 kilograms at birth, were reported to be doing well. The baby received his first immunization at six weeks at the Riokomor Dispensary, the facility that referred her for surgery.
The decision to perform the surgery was due to a breech presentation in a mother who had previously undergone a CS. The medical team, led by Dr Sin’goei Henry (Medical Officer), ensured that they had the right equipment, drugs, and conditions to achieve the best surgical outcome. This success underscores the county government’s efforts to devolve healthcare operations to sub-county hospitals and reduce the need for referrals to Lodwar County Referral Hospital (LCRH).
Ayanae also mentioned, “Both the baby and I are doing well. I am still healing, and the medication is helping.” Several factors contributed to the delay in performing CS operations in Lokitaung, including socio-cultural beliefs, myths surrounding operative deliveries, and inaccessibility from the vast Turkana North region.
The Sub-County Medical Officer of Health, Daniel Lokiriama, played a crucial role in the success of the surgery through effective coordination of the referral case. He worked in collaboration with the Catholic Parish to ensure prompt response and transportation via an ambulance from Kokselei, located six kilometers from the referring facility.
It is expected that more CS deliveries will occur at Lokitaung and other sub-county hospitals, supported by community units through a robust community health strategy and peripheral health facilities. Continued sensitization by the Department of Health is anticipated to further improve health-seeking behavior and strengthen health system building blocks in sub-county hospitals.
Dr Sing’oei was supported by a dedicated team including Ezekiel Epetet (Assisting Surgeon/ Scrub Nurse), Simon Lobuin (AMREF seconded nurse as a Receiving Nurse), Purity Edung (Circulating/ Volunteer theatre technologist), and Anesthetist Wesley Achenchi. Post-operative care was provided by Dickson Nyongesa (Physiotherapist), Nutritionist Pedo Vashty, and nutrition volunteers Diana Emase and Peter Ibuya, with nursing care from Dismas Erupe and Simon Lobuin.