MTRH Restores Hope to 16 Children After Successful Lifesaving Surgeries at Shoe4Africa Children’s Hospital
For many of the health workers, the experience was emotionally rewarding, with them witnessing the children begin to heal and strengthen.
Children who had hitherto lived with pain and distress finally got the life-changing intervention that they so desperately needed. Photo/Courtesy
By Ruth Sang
A total of sixteen young patients with Hirschsprung’s disease now have a new chance at healthy living after undergoing successful corrective surgeries at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital. The procedures, carried out at the Shoe4Africa Children’s Hospital, marked a significant breakthrough for families that had faced years of medical challenges, uncertainty, and emotional strain.
The surgeries were performed between November 3 and 7, 2025, under the Pediatric Pull-Through Surgery Project, dedicated to increasing access to highly specialized treatment for children living with this rare congenital disorder. Hirschsprung’s disease affects the large intestine by limiting the nerve cells responsible for normal bowel movement, thereby making it extremely difficult for children who suffer from this condition to pass stool. This can cause them immense discomfort, chronic constipation, and frequent trips to the hospital, greatly burdening both the sufferers and caregivers.
For many of the participating families, the weeklong mission marked a turning point. Children who had hitherto lived with pain and distress finally got the life-changing intervention that they so desperately needed.
The mission was led by Consultant Pediatric Surgeon Dr. Peter Saula, who added that the project was of deep impact to the patients and their loved ones. The medical feat was much more than a technical success of operations that restored comfort, dignity, and optimism to children who suffered for so long.
“This camp has given a new lease of life to sixteen young patients. Their recovery is an affirmation of the commitment by our surgical team and MTRH’s efforts towards scaling up specialized care for children,” Dr. Saula said after performing the last operation.
Throughout the week, a dedicated multidisciplinary team of anesthetists, pediatricians, surgical nurses, and post-operative caregivers worked together to ensure every child received safe, quality care. For many of the health workers, the experience was emotionally rewarding, with them witnessing the children begin to heal and strengthen.
MTRH Chief Executive Officer Dr. Philip Kirwa praised the mission as an important milestone for Kenya’s healthcare system, noting that developing local capacity for complex pediatric surgeries eases financial and emotional pressures on families who might otherwise seek treatment far from home.
According to Dr. Kirwa, all the sixteen children were discharged in a stable condition and are currently continuing their recovery from home. He added that the success of the program has strengthened the resolve of the hospital to broaden its pediatric surgical services.
To sustain such progress, MTRH is investing in continuous training, modern medical equipment, and collaborative partnerships with experts both within Kenya and abroad. It is the institution’s wish that future initiatives will allow even more children with specialized medical needs to access timely and effective care. For the families whose lives were touched by the project, the week delivered more than medical healing-it brought a renewed sense of hope and the promise of healthier days ahead.
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