King Fahd Hospital conducts first laparoscopic kidney cancer surgery in Lamu

Mohamed Hassan-KNA

The King Fahd Hospital has successfully performed the hospital’s first laparoscopic radical nephrectomy surgery, a minimally invasive procedure to remove a cancerous kidney.

In a groundbreaking milestone for healthcare in Lamu County, the Urology led by Dr. Omar Bin Salman conducted the surgery on a 65-year-old patient who had been diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma (cancer of the right kidney).

The complex procedure was carried out in Lamu at just Sh180,000 which was fully covered under the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), making advanced medical care both accessible and affordable for the residents.

The medical breakthrough is the result of strategic investments by Lamu County Government to upgrade healthcare infrastructure across the county.

Notably, the minimally invasive theatre at King Fahd Hospital, one of the first in the region, is now fully operational, enabling procedures that previously required referral to distant facilities.

Deputy Governor and Health CECM Dr. Mbarak M. Bahjaj hailed the achievement as a significant step forward for the region’s health sector.

“This is a proud moment for Lamu. It reflects the impact of deliberate investment in local capacity. Our people no longer have to travel far or spend heavily to access specialized treatment,” Dr. Bahjaj said.

He said the county government had heavily invested in upgrading its key health facilities in Faza, Witu, Mokowe and Mpeketoni.