Kisumu hospital to offer radiotherapy services

By Peter Ochieng

The Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) in Kisumu is set to become the first health facility in the Nyanza region to offer radiotherapy treatment.

Cancer patients in the Nyanza region have had to travel long distances to Eldoret or Nairobi, to receive radiotherapy services.

A recent meeting in Nairobi between Dr. Joseph Kimagut Sitienei, Director of Public Health and Dr. Richard Lesiyampe, JOOTRH CEO among others, discussed the placement of radiotherapy equipment, with special consideration given to JOOTRH and Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH).

It was noted that SWEDFUND, a Swedish development finance institution will support the acquisition and installation of radiotherapy equipment at JOOTRH.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health is taking significant steps towards reducing the cost of chemotherapy treatment for patients enrolled in the Social Health Authority (SHA) program.

During a visit to JOOTRH on Monday, Cabinet Secretary (CS) for health Dr. Deborah Barasa revealed that currently, patients in Nairobi are benefiting from direct access to chemotherapy drugs.

“The government is actively negotiating with pharmaceutical companies to secure lower prices for essential cancer drugs, including chemotherapy medications,” she said.

She emphasised that the government is working to increase access to life-saving chemotherapy for more Kenyans, particularly those in underserved areas.

“By lowering the cost of chemotherapy, we aim to alleviate the financial burden on patients and their families.”

On his part, Dr. Lusi Ojwang, Kisumu County Chief Officer of Medical Services, Public Health and Sanitation, highlighted the need for increased investment in cancer care infrastructure, particularly in underserved regions.

“We have already spent Sh150 million in the cancer centre construction, this is a huge burden to the county government,” he said.

CS Barasa acknowledged the challenges faced by patients in accessing radiotherapy services, particularly in regions outside Nairobi.

She underscored the importance of distributing radiotherapy centres across the country to provide equitable access to cancer care.