Lamu residents escape costly referrals as free specialist surgeries come closer to home

Residents of Lamu who have for years struggled with expensive referrals and long journeys to access specialised medical care are now receiving free surgical treatment closer to home, thanks to a medical outreach programme at King Fahd Hospital.

A team of 12 doctors from Turkiye is conducting specialist surgeries on the island as part of a partnership between the Lamu County Government and Doctors Worldwide, aimed at improving access to healthcare and reducing reliance on referrals outside the county.

Beyond the medical camp, the partnership is also focused on strengthening Lamu’s healthcare system through specialist training for county doctors and nurses in Turkiye. County leaders hope the initiative will build local capacity and expand specialist services within the island.

For many residents, the outreach has provided access to treatments that were previously out of reach due to the high costs of travel, accommodation and medical expenses incurred when seeking care in other counties.

"I had been told I would need to travel outside Lamu for surgery, but I simply could not afford it. Being treated here means I can recover close to my family without worrying about the cost of travelling,” one of the patients stated.

Another resident accompanying a relative said specialised treatment had remained inaccessible for many families because of the financial burden associated with referrals.

"When you are referred to another county, you have to think about transport, accommodation and other expenses. Receiving the treatment here has lifted a huge burden from many families," Mzee Bwana said.

The visiting medical team is performing a range of specialist procedures that would ordinarily require patients to travel to referral hospitals outside Lamu.

The outreach is expected to reduce the backlog of patients awaiting surgery while improving access to specialised healthcare services on the island.

The initiative is part of an ongoing collaboration between the Lamu County Government and Doctors Worldwide (Yeryuzu Doctorlari), a humanitarian medical organisation based in Turkiye.

The partnership goes beyond periodic medical missions, incorporating skills transfer, professional exchanges and support programmes designed to strengthen healthcare delivery in the county.

Under the agreement, doctors and nurses employed by Lamu County will undertake fellowship programmes at hospitals in Turkiye, where they will receive specialised training before returning to serve in local health facilities.

Healthcare workers at King Fahd Hospital said the exchange programme would help address the shortage of specialist expertise in the county and improve the quality of care available to residents.

Lamu Deputy Governor Mohamed Mbarak Bahjaj said the partnership had enabled more residents to access specialist treatment closer to home while creating opportunities for local health workers to gain additional skills.

He said investing in the training of doctors and nurses would improve healthcare standards in the county in the long term and gradually reduce dependence on referrals to facilities outside Lamu.

The partnership was established in 2024 after Lamu Governor Issa Timamy signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Doctors Worldwide to facilitate regular visits by medical specialists from Turkiye.

The agreement also provides for an exchange programme between healthcare professionals from Lamu and Turkiye to promote the sharing of medical knowledge, technical expertise and clinical skills.

Since the collaboration began, visiting specialists have performed procedures in urology, gynaecology and general surgery, including hernia repairs and operations to treat lumps and ulcers.

County officials say the programme has helped reduce the number of patients waiting for specialist surgical care while expanding access to services that were previously difficult for many residents to obtain.