The second annual Hernia and Undescended Testis medical surgical camp at Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi will help over ninety people suffering from these conditions.
According to Francisca Syovata, a pediatric surgeon at KNH, patients who cannot afford this life-changing procedure will benefit immensely from the five-day medical camp, which began on Monday and is scheduled to end on Friday. The National Hospital and Insurance Fund will pay for the patients’ treatment.
According to Syovata, the number of patients with hernias and undescended testicles has increased, necessitating the urgent necessity to hold a second medical camp at the hospital.
She states that an untreated hernia, which is characterized by an organ or tissue fragment pushing out of it’s normally contained space or cavity and protruding in the belly, high thighs, and groin areas, can lead to more serious long-term health concerns.
Pain and discomfort are common with hernias, particularly while the patient is standing or moving large objects.
“Since we started this second Bi annual Hernia and Undescended Testis medical surgery camp here at KNH we have been treating patients suffering from Inguinal and Umbilical Hernia as well as surgical correction of paediatric undescended testis,“ she stated emphasizing the need for treatment to be done at an early stage.
“The umbilical hernia which occurs at the umbilicus is usually a defect of the abdominal wall. It is most common when a baby is crying or in distress. You might see something bulging at the umbilicus which is cut off at birth and supposed to close by itself,” Dr Syovata explained.
“The Inguinal Hernia happens at the groin. In males when the testis are coming down they follow a specific path to the scrotum .The path they follow is supposed to close naturally but if it does not close there is an opening that is left causing defect where intestines can pass through,” she added.
She further stated that Hernia defects can block the pathway into the intestines which can cause a patient to do emergency operation.
“The patient can vomit or fail to go to the toilet if the hernia defects are not treated in time resulting in an emergency theater operation.Undescended Testis causes higher risk of infertility and testicular cancer.”
Therefore, in order to reach more patients in need of these life-saving treatment procedures, Kenyatta National Hospital is pushing for such medical camps in collaboration with the Kenya Association of Paediatrics.
Medical students can also receive training and the chance to transfer expertise at the medical camp.
Seventy patients with hernias and undescended testicles benefited from the first biannual medical camp held in May of this year.
