The Kisii County Government in partnership with the Scandinavian Care East Africa Ltd (SCEA) is exploring the possibility of establishing a Cancer Treatment Center at the Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital (KTRH).
A delegation led by SCEA Managing Director Goran Hellers yesterday held discussions with Kisii County Deputy Governor Joash Maangi, Executive Committee Member (ECM) in charge of Health Sarah Omache, and the KTRH medical superintendent Dr. Enoch Ondari.
If the agreement is signed, comprehensive cancer care services including radiotherapy shall be conducted at the hospital.
Maangi said, KTRH will be the third hospital in the country to offer cancer treatment given that the country has only two functional cancer machines in Nairobi hospitals.
“If established, the center will serve many patients not only in Kisii but also from surrounding counties,” he said adding that it is easy to govern a healthy county.
Omache said statistics indicate that the county has about 7,000 cancer patients who mostly seek medical attention at Kenyatta National Hospital.
“The center will decongest the two existing facilities. The county government will bring cancer treatment services close to the people to minimize traveling expenses incurred by patients who mostly come from a poor background,” said Omache.
Dr Ondari said the Kisii county government is running a referral hospital which has several tertiary care facilities but lacks a comprehensive cancer care facility.
Dr. Hellers said SCEA has established comprehensive cancer care in Ghana and Accra in Africa where there are many cancer survivors.
“We shall perform cancer treatment at KTRH which shall be characterized by highest medical quality, continuity of care, short waiting time and holistic approach to patients care. We shall also have the appropriate patient insurance policy,” said Dr. Hellers. He said SCEA intends to establish a close relationship with the Kenyan Oncological Society and with an appropriate local academic institution and that the institution will put aside part of its profits to a foundation for research in radiosurgery and related subjects. Ends.
