The government is working around the clock to reduce the cost of cancer treatment in the country.
Speaking in Mombasa during the official opening of a multi-million Cancer Treatment Centre at Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital, Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe indicated that at least 42,000 Kenyans are diagnosed with different cancer ailments annually, out of which 27,000 people die from the disease.
“Cancer is the third killer disease in Kenya,” he stated.
According to the Health CS, Kenyans have been obliged to travel abroad for cancer treatment for a long time, particularly to South Africa and India.
President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC), which is part of the Big Four Agenda, is intended to alleviate the cost of cancer treatment, according to Kagwe.
“We’ve seen individuals fly abroad and spend enormous sums of money, but today you can come here with an NHIF card and get services without selling your vehicle, cow, or impoverishing your family,” he explained.
Hassan Joho, the governor of Mombasa, said Kenyans are too ready to criticize the government without considering the excellent things President Kenyatta’s administration is doing to improve health care services.
“Kenyans are too ready to criticize, and they are too fast to never see the wonderful things that are being done, always seeing the horrible things that are being done, and constantly focusing on the negative rather than the positive,” he said.
When fully operational, the new cancer center at CGTRH, which has been equipped with cutting-edge radiotherapy devices, will be able to treat up to 120 patients per week.
It will provide radiotherapy as well as chemotherapy treatments.
The National Hospital Insurance Fund will cover at least 70% of the cancer treatment at the new institution (NHIF).
“Access to cancer therapy was not there,” Kagwe said, “but today here in Mombasa, we are pleased to learn that access to cancer treatment is right here.”
“We can, without a doubt, beat cancer!” There will be no more or less. With the proper care, we may survive cancer, but we must first accept responsibility as people,” he stated
“We can, without a doubt, beat cancer!” There will be no more or less. With the proper care, we may survive cancer, but we must first accept responsibility as people,” he stated.
