In Kenya, the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) has recently procured advanced diagnostic equipment from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) via the Ministry of Health’s National Cancer Control Program. As the only level 5 hospital in Western Kenya, JOOTRH’s enhanced telepathology capabilities are critical for the ten surrounding counties. Their recent acquisitions include a series of cutting-edge Leica systems: an Automated tissue processor, Autostainer, Automated microtome, Slide labeler, Embedding Station, Cassette printer, and Slide scanner.
These advancements in telepathology, which allow for remote examination of pathology samples, will significantly bolster the hospital’s capacity. Notably, this equipment is expected to amplify global collaborations among pathologists, offering enhanced diagnostics especially for intricate histopathological cases. While the automated systems promise to revamp tissue processing, they also underscore the necessity for proficient technologists and pathologists to achieve faster turnaround times. Moreover, transitioning to digital pathology facilitates swifter, remote consultations, offering a stark contrast to the more time-consuming manual slide reviews. Among the new tools, there’s a keen focus on diagnostic techniques like Immunohistochemistry (IHC), a method that zeroes in on specific molecular markers in cells, thus refining disease diagnosis.
With an ambition to leverage these tools for pinpointing the origin of various cancers, JOOTRH has initiated comprehensive training for its team. Through these telepathology strides, the hospital is set on delivering premier cancer diagnostic services across Kenya, even extending to its most remote regions.
