By KPC Reporter
Women with high-risk pregnancies in Western Kenya now have local access to specialised care following the return of a foetal medicine specialist to Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH).
The milestone follows the rejoining of Dr Muruka Kays at the facility after two years of advanced training in Maternal–Foetal Medicine.
Dr Kays had previously served the facility as an obstetrician-gynaecologist before leaving for specialised studies.
His return is significant beyond Kisumu.
He becomes the first Maternal–Foetal Medicine specialist to serve Nyanza, Kakamega and the wider Western Kenya region, an area where women with complicated pregnancies have often been referred far from home—or gone without expert care altogether.
Maternal–Foetal Medicine is a sub-specialty that focuses on pregnancies where the mother, the unborn baby, or both face heightened medical risks.
These include women living with heart disease, diabetes, thyroid disorders, epilepsy and sickle cell disease, as well as those with obesity-related complications or cancer survivors hoping to conceive.
Such cases are increasingly common and carry serious consequences.
Chronic medical conditions are currently the second leading cause of maternal deaths, with hypertensive disorders among the most dangerous when not detected and managed early.
“These women need careful monitoring, early diagnosis and timely intervention,” Dr Kays said during his reception at the hospital.
“With specialised follow-up, many high-risk pregnancies can still result in safe deliveries.”
JOOTRH Chief Executive Officer Dr Joshua Clinton Okise welcomed the development, describing it as a critical addition to public maternal healthcare, particularly for women who previously had limited or no access to specialised services.
To embed the new service into routine care, the hospital has established a dedicated Maternal–Foetal Medicine clinic every Monday under the Division of Obstetrics.
The clinic will offer comprehensive reviews, advanced ultrasound assessments, specialised counselling and coordinated care involving other medical specialists.
The hospital’s management encouraged women across Western Kenya who have been identified as high-risk or who live with chronic medical conditions to seek care early, noting that timely intervention can make the difference between life and loss for both mother and child.