22/04/2022
You have gas problems? Welcome to KNH Gastroenterology Unit By Cynthia Cherono Every individual at least once in a lifetime suffers from a disorder or disease that affects a part of the digestive system; either the esophagus or stomach. Gastroenterology is a medical specialty dealing with the study of the digestive system and its disorders. The knowledge and technology in Gastroenterology have grown massively in the last two decades and has branched into various subspecialties like hepatology, pancreatology, functional bowel disorders with motility studies, therapeutic endoscopy and endoscopic ultrasound. Gastrointestinal services incorporate a joint medical and surgical approach for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal, liver and pancreatic disorders including cancer. The Gastroenterology Unit at Kenyatta National Hospital provides comprehensive and state-of-the-art services through either outpatient or inpatient services. It is full of experienced gastroenterologists, an efficient clinical team, skilled and compassionate staff, and welltrained technicians whose aim is to optimize patient experience through the provision of evidence-based specialized health care. Newsline interviewed the Head of Unit, gastroenterology Dr. Onyango Stephen, to get to learn more about gastroenterology services offered at KNH, treatment options available and the collaboration they have with the University of Nairobi (UON). “Gastroenterology is the branch of medicine focused on the diseases of the gastrointestinal system and its disorders. Diseases affecting the gastrointestinal tract, which include the organs from mouth to anus, along the alimentary canal, are the focus of this specialty,” Dr. Onyango told Newsline. “KNH being the tertiary referral hospital has all facilities to treat the whole spectrum of gastrointestinal disorders like diseases of oesophagus, cancer of oesophagus,
reflux diseases, diseases of the stomach including ulcers, diseases of the pancreas, diseases of liver and diseases of small intestine and colon,” he continued. “Additionally, we have two clinics namely the liver clinic which specializes on diseases of the liver only, the general gastrointestinal clinics that focuses on other diseases of gastrointestinal system and Endoscopy Unit (where the team looks and observes the disease through the camera),” he stated. The unit boasts of trained staff capable of taking care of clients with spectrum of diseases that exist
“Gastroenterology is the branch of medicine focused on the diseases of the gastrointestinal system and its disorders. Diseases affecting the gastrointestinal tract, which include the organs from mouth to anus, along the alimentary canal, are the focus of this specialty,” .. Dr. Stephen Onyango
ISSUE 8 | Kenyatta National Hospital Newsline
in addition to treating most of the diseases in gastroenterology since most of the equipment the unit has do not exist in other hospitals. “For cases of admission, ward 7D caters to inpatient services, for both pediatrics and adults, they both have clinics that vary so the specialists work together to ensure that they provide healthcare and optimize the patient experience for better health outcomes,” said Dr. Onyango. The University of Nairobi too has contributed to the functioning of the unit by working together with KNH staff in the clinics; medical students practice in the KNH clinics as well through the help of KNH staff and this has really helped advance their knowledge, being an academic institution. They also use the Endoscopy Unit as a gastroenterology training centre. Despite the conditions of the bile duct being challenging since it includes the cancer of the bile duct, pancreatic cancer, and cancer of the gallbladder, the unit does endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) which is a risky procedure in gastroenterology.
PHOTO | STEVE MUTUKU Gastroenterology team led by Dr. Stephen Onyanga (2L) head and consultant Gastroenterology training unit
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