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A new cancer treatment centre has been launched at the Kenyatta University Teaching and Referral Hospital (KUTTRH).

President Uhuru Kenyatta, who on Saturday presided over the official opening of an Integrated Molecular Imaging and Hospitality Centre, said the new facility has the capacity to accommodate 100 patients.

Uhuru said the new facility would help in early and accurate diagnosis of cancer and assessment of response to treatment, which would lead to improved survival rates.

Latest statistics indicate that at least 33,000 Kenyans die of cancer or cancer-related complications annually.

The President said the centre, which cost approximately Sh2 billion to build, will reduce outbound medical tourism and attract patients from East, West and Central Africa.

Uhuru, who was accompanied by First Lady Margaret Kenyatta, noted that Kenyans spend close to Sh10 billion annually seeking cancer treatment abroad.

“The ultra-modern IMIC is the first of its kind in Kenya and the region, and was developed as part of my government’s efforts to expand access to cancer treatment in the country.

This is a milestone in the management of cancer treatment and access to healthcare services,” he said.

NHIF role

Uhuru said the launch of the facility was an added arrow in Kenya’s quiver in the quest for Universal Health Coverage (UHC) which he said was a priority for his administration and part of the Big Four agenda.

Equipment and services at the facility are at par or better than those found in countries that Kenyans have been travelling to for cancer treatment, the President said.

With cancer being the third leading cause of death in the country and with projections indicating the burden of the disease is expected to increase by 2030, the Head of State revealed that the government was making major investments to lessen the burden on citizens.

He also called on Kenyans to enroll in the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) saying it will help them cater for medical expenses, especially cancer treatment.

 “Currently, the NHIF covers cancer treatment in the areas of radiotherapy and chemotherapy which are available here at KUTTRH,” he said.

The center, he added, will also reduce the treatment waiting time for patients from three to one month.

The Head of State pledged that his government will continue to fund the expansion of hospitals to improve handling of cancer related cases.

 According to KUTRRH’s website, the new IMIC Centre has state-of-the-art two PET/CT Scanners, SPECT/CT Scanner, two  MRI, three Tesla units, CT 256 slice unit,  two LINAC machines, a cyclotron, radio-pharmacy, brachytherapy equipment and a cyberknife. 

Squatters promise

Speaking at the same function, Uhuru promised to issue title deeds to more than  10,000 squatters living at Kamae village near Kenyatta University ending decades of a land dispute between the villagers and the institution of higher learning.

“Before December, I will personally deliver the title deeds. I want you to be settled in peace and I urge you to leave the university alone and allow me to deal with  it,” he said.

Their group’s chairman Francis Ng’ang’a said they were given the land by the government in the 1960s.

“We can’t stay calm since the President has answered all our calls. We have been living in fear that our property will be destroyed but the assurance of getting title deeds by December has renewed our strength,” Jemimah Watiri, an elderly woman said.