Free Surgical, Eye and Fistula Camps at Homa Bay County Referral Hospital

Homa Bay, Kenya — The Rotary Club of Nairobi Magharibi, in partnership with the Surgical Society of Kenya (SSK), the Kenya Society for the Blind, and the Fistula Foundation, will conduct a week-long free medical outreach offering surgical, eye, and fistula repair services at Homa Bay County Referral Hospital from 26 October to 1 November 2025. The mega camp will bring together a multidisciplinary team of 70 medical professionals, including senior surgeons, consultants, residents, nurses, anaesthetists, and medical officers; supported by 20 Rotary volunteers. This initiative follows two successful surgical camps held in Narok and Makueni, and aims to increase access to essential surgical services for low-income residents of Homa Bay County. “Many families in Homa Bay cannot afford the cost of essential surgery,” said Camp Coordinator, David Malago. “This camp will provide life-changing procedures free of charge and strengthen local capacity through collaboration with county health teams and professional partners.” Homa Bay County continues to face significant health and social challenges. Maternal mortality and obstetric complications remain high, and conditions such as obstetric fistula persist in communities with limited access to emergency obstetric care. National studies indicate that roughly 1% of reproductive-aged women in some surveys report fistula-like symptoms underscoring the urgent need for targeted fistula repair services and follow-up care. Visual impairment and blindness are also key public health issues in Kenya. Population studies show that many cases of vision loss can be prevented or treated through cataract and other eye surgeries; services that will form part of the camp’s eye-care component. The Homa Bay Mega Camp aims to provide hundreds of free consultations and dozens of surgical procedures (including cataract and fistula repairs) for underserved patients; reduce the backlog of treatable surgical and ophthalmic conditions in the county; strengthen local capacity by working alongside county health teams and national professional bodies; and raise awareness on prevention, early presentation, and follow-up care for surgical and eye conditions. Surgical need across Kenya remains high, and outreach efforts like this play a crucial role in closing the gap in access to safe, affordable, and timely surgical care especially in underserved regions.