By Joshua Otieno | February 2026
Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir has praised ongoing international medical collaborations at Coast General Teaching & Referral Hospital, saying they are strengthening the facility’s position as a regional centre of excellence in specialised healthcare.
The governor said the hospital this week hosted its Annual Neurosurgery Camp in partnership with Joachim Oertel and his neurosurgical team from the University Hospital of Saarland.
During the medical mission, visiting specialists worked alongside local clinicians to carry out complex neurosurgical procedures for patients who would otherwise be unable to access or afford such highly specialised care. The surgeries, which are often prohibitively expensive, were offered free of charge to vulnerable patients from Mombasa and the wider Coast region.
Governor Nassir noted that the collaboration is being anchored locally by Consultant Neurosurgeon Ben Okanga, whose leadership has continued to expand neurosurgical capacity at the hospital while facilitating skills transfer and advanced training for local medical staff.
“These partnerships are not only saving lives but also building long-term capacity for our healthcare system,” the governor said, expressing gratitude to Professor Oertel and his team for their solidarity with the people of Mombasa.
He reaffirmed the county government’s commitment to supporting global partnerships that enhance specialised healthcare services and improve access to quality treatment for residents.
