KU hospital unveils two machines to help in early diagnosis of cancer
The Kenyatta University Teaching Referral Hospital has today unveiled two Petscan machines that will help in the early diagnosis of cancer.
The two machines, which are of their kind in East and Central Africa, are able to scan about 50 patients a day.
According to the hospital’s board chairperson Prof Olive Mugenda, each machine will scan about 24 people per day.
“This will continue for the rest of the day and in another two days, we have decided to be doing two shifts and that way we will be able to scan about 50 Kenyans per day using the two machines,” Mugenda said.
In the recently opened Integrated Molecular Imaging Centre, patient 001 underwent cancer screening at around 11.30 am.
The centre was opened by President Uhuru Kenyatta on October 16 adding yet another arrow in the country’s quiver in its journey towards quality health care for its people.
The scourge of cancer has bedeviled the country for decades causing untold suffering and forcing many families to seek cancer diagnostic and treatment outside the country.
Thousands of Kenyans who have been traveling overseas in search of Medicare will now get quality treatment in Kenya.
Kenyatta said the government had invested in the screening and treatment facility in response to the rising cases of cancer-related deaths in the country.
“We are making these investments in recognition of the fact that cancer is the third leading cause of death in Kenya; and projections show that the burden of the disease will grow by approximately 85% by the year 2030, unless we as a government take bold steps to address the challenges related to this disease,” the President said.
The ultra-modern medical facility is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment to offer comprehensive cancer management services and is part of the Government’s efforts to attain Universal Health Coverage (UHC), a pillar of Kenya’s Big 4 development blueprint.
The new center, the first in a public health facility in the country and the region, will aid in early diagnosis and treatment of cancer and is part of KUTRRH Comprehensive Cancer Centre.
The ultra-modern facility was developed as part of government efforts to expand access to cancer treatment in the country.
