By Lorraine Anyango.

Cancer patients in the Nyanza region are set to benefit from improved access to life-saving radiotherapy services. Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) is poised to become the region’s first facility to offer radiotherapy treatments.

Previously, patients in the Nyanza region had to travel long distances to Eldoret or Nairobi to receive radiotherapy, often facing lengthy wait times.

A recent meeting in Nairobi brought together key stakeholders, including Dr. Joseph Kimagut Sitienei, Director of Public Health, and Dr. Joan-Paula Bor-Malenya, Lead for Cancer Prevention, Early Detection & Screening at the National Cancer Control Program. The meeting was also attended by Dr. Richard Lesiyampe, CEO of JOOTRH and Elsa Ekblom , Mander project Accelerator, and Hakan Danlfors who is the projects Director of the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) representatives.

The meeting discussed the placement of radiotherapy equipment, with special consideration given to JOOTRH and Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH). SWEDFUND, a Swedish development finance institution, has been instrumental in enhancing cancer care in Kenya. Through its Accelerator Project, SWEDFUND has supported the acquisition and installation of radiotherapy equipment at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) in Eldoret. This equipment is housed at the Chandaria Cancer and Chronic Diseases Centre, which opened in 2021.

The move to establish a radiotherapy center at JOOTRH aligns with the Kenyan government’s efforts to decentralize cancer care services. Recently, Health Cabinet Secretary Dr. Deborah M. Barasa and Director-General of Health Dr. Patrick Amoth visited JOOTRH and acknowledged the challenges faced by patients in accessing radiotherapy. They emphasized the importance of expanding access to these services across the country.

With the addition of radiotherapy services at JOOTRH, the Nyanza region is taking a significant step forward in providing comprehensive cancer care to its residents.