NEUROSURGICAL EDUCATION NECESSARY AT MTRH; SAYS VISITING DOCTOR

The Neurosurgical cases at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital are on the rise a move that has prompted the Neurosurgeons at the facility to institute Neurosurgery research studies and increasing Neurosurgery awareness amongst the Hospital Staff.

Dr. Steve Parker, a visiting Neurosurgeon from Duke University in North Carolina, USA and the Hospital’s Neurosurgeon Dr. Florentius Koech will institute studies aimed at increasing neurosurgery education and clinical services that will impart necessary knowledge to Clinicians, Physicians and Nurses on management of the cases.

Dr. Parker, who had been working at the Mulago Hospital in Kampala-Uganda for the last three years, says that Neurosurgical cases are as rampant there in comparison to Western Kenya where road traffic accidents are high due to poorly maintained roads.

“With the increasing number of motorcycles in the roads, the number of head injuries is becoming one of the common presentation at the theater”, Said Dr. Parker.

The Neurosurgeons said that there are, however, spine trauma cases commonly presented to the Hospital. They said many patients report very late to the Hospital with large brain tumors thereby making operations very difficult and calling for much technical skill.

The two Neurosurgeons have been performing surgical cases together at MTRH and handling traumatic cases. Dr Parker will be at the Hospital until June 2009, and will return in July 2011 for similar operations.

The Neurosurgery Department will hold a Neurosurgical Camp at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital from June 2nd - June 6th 2009 in collaboration with world-renown specialists from Valencia, Spain.