Doctors have performed the first minimally invasive surgery at the Kimbimbi Sub-County Hospital in Kirinyaga County.

This comes barely a month after the first spinal surgery in the county was successfully operated at Kerugoya County and Referral Hospital.

The laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed on a 39-year-old woman from Gathigiriri ward who was suffering from cholecystitis.

The patient is stable and recuperated in the ward after a successful surgery.

 Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a term for a type of surgery to remove the gallbladder when one has gallstones.

The groundbreaking medical procedure is a step forward for Governor Anne Waiguru’s elaborate Comprehensive Healthcare Coverage strategy to ensure that county residents access quality and affordable healthcare services within the county.

After the undertaking the successful laparoscopy, Dr. Madaraka Ogoye, who was the lead surgeon said that the surgery was a breakthrough in the county’s medical care provision.

 He said that minimally invasive procedure is more effective and cost-effective than conventional open surgery.

“Minimal invasive surgery doesn’t make big cuts on patients since we use specialized equipment to make small incisions, through which we carry out the surgery. Smaller incisions mean less pain, faster recovery, quicker return home, back to work quickly, and all this means that overall, minimally invasive surgery is cost-effective, as the shorter the stay at a hospital, the cheaper it is,” he said.

Dr. Ogoye emphasized the global trend towards minimally invasive surgeries due to their benefits, including reduced morbidity associated with open surgeries, faster recovery times, and cost-effectiveness. He termed the surgery the first of its kind introduced in the county as the world transitions from open surgery.

The doctor said there were plans to collaborate with other counties on building the capacity of doctors and other medical cadres to build teams that can safely and effectively provide minimally invasive surgeries in various counties.

On his part, Kirinyaga County Executive Committee Member of Health, George Karoki, commended the first laparoscopy in the county, noting that Kirinyaga was on the right trajectory as far as the provision of medical services is concerned and is fast moving in the adoption of modern technology and medical advancement.

The CECM thanked Governor Waiguru for creating an environment that enabled such advancements.

Governor Waiguru has said that the county government is committed to the improvement of health infrastructure as well as service delivery.

She said that Kimbimbi Hospital is set to be upgraded to a Level Four Hospital after constructing a modern state-of-the-art complex expected to open by the close of the current financial yea