The Eldoret Airway Surgery Program

The Eldoret Airway Surgery Program is a collaborative global health initiative between the University of Alberta and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, Kenya. 

The program focuses on building long-term, sustainable surgical care by training local surgeons, improving hospital infrastructure, and providing essential medical equipment. The team has performed and taught a wide range of surgeries including complex ear surgeries, head and neck cancer resections, and airway procedures.

In recent years, the program has shifted its primary focus to airway reconstruction surgeries, which are life-saving procedures that restore breathing function for patients with severe airway damage or obstruction. These surgeries are especially critical in this area, which has limited access to specialized care and limited resources. While the program continues to support a broad range of surgical services, this focused effort is helping build long-term, local expertise in advanced airway care. Through hands-on training, collaboration, and equipment support, we’re empowering Kenyan surgeons to perform these procedures independently—helping patients breathe safely, recover fully, and live healthier lives for generations to come.