Kenya has kicked off a new specialist training programme at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) aimed at boosting the country’s ability to diagnose and treat lung diseases, which continue to affect thousands of people every year.
The training, launched by Medical Services PS Dr Ouma Oluga, brings together Kenyan clinicians and experts from the University of Nagasaki in Japan for a three-day hands-on course in advanced bronchoscopy a procedure that allows doctors to closely examine a patient’s airways and detect problems early.
Dr Oluga said the programme comes at a time when conditions such as TB, pneumonia, asthma and lung cancer remain some of the country’s biggest health challenges, yet many patients are still diagnosed too late.
“We want our teams to have the right skills, the right tools and the confidence to act early,” he said during the launch. “This training is about building people, building capacity, and making our health system stronger under the Universal Health Coverage vision.”
Bronchoscopy is a key test that helps doctors identify infections, blockages, or suspicious growths in the lungs. The new equipment and training at KNH are expected to help clinicians make faster, more accurate decisions, which can significantly improve treatment outcomes.
KNH is positioning itself as a regional centre for advanced lung care, and officials say this partnership with Nagasaki University will help expand specialist training and strengthen local research on respiratory diseases.
Those who attended the launch included Acting KNH CEO Dr Richard Lesiyampe, Japan’s Ambassador to Kenya H.E. Hiroshi Matsuura, and Prof. Keitaro Matsumoto from Nagasaki University.
Dr Oluga thanked the Japanese partners for their continued support and urged the trainees to take full advantage of the opportunity.
“The skills you gain here will go straight to the bedside to real patients who need timely diagnosis and better care,” he said. “This is how we build a healthier, more resilient Kenya, one step at a time.”
