KUTRRH board chairperson Prof. Olive Mugenda and other officials during the reception of new machines
By William Muchiri
Medics at the Kenyatta University Teaching Research and Referral Hospital (KUTRRH) have reported a decline in advanced cases of cancer being diagnosed at the facility, giving a ray of hope as the country seeks to tackle the disease.
According to the medics, people diagnosed with stage 3 and 4 cancer are getting fewer with most of the cases reported being Stage 1 and Stage 2.
The Hospital Board Chairperson Prof Olive Mugenda said while it was unclear why there has been a reduction in the cases, it presented optimism in tackling the disease.
“Of late, our tests show that the number of patients being diagnosed with cancer at advanced stages is declining. Instead, more people are being diagnosed with Stage One and Stage Two of the disease, offering much needed hope and optimism to the treatment of the disease,” Prof Mugenda said.
She was speaking at the facility on Thursday when the hospital acquired five new ultrasound machines used in testing cancer and other procedures.
She said the real reason for the apparent reduction, though not clear, might be attributed to the fact that more people were going for testing early.
She noted that early screening helped in managing the disease and called on Kenyans to take up their initiative and establish their cancer status early.
Prof Mugenda further said the new equipment were bought through the Ministry of Health at a cost of Sh46 million, bringing to 13 the total number that the facility has so far.
She said the equipment would come handy in testing patients for cancer and hasten the commencement of treatment, now that the new health cover would fully cater for the cost of treating the disease.
Recently, Health Director General Dr. Patrick Amoth announced that the new Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) that is set to be launched by the government on Tuesday would fully cover cancer treatment.
While calling on Kenyans to register with the new cover, Dr. Amoth said the cover would help the more than one million families that might be impoverished while treating the disease.
Mugenda also said the additional equipment would drastically reduce the waiting time for patients coming to the hospital for tests and cumulatively increase the number of those who go through various procedures daily.
The Acting Director Clinical Services Dr. Kerama Onyimbo said the newly acquired machines were different in that they could operate for 24 hours without any interruption and more patients would therefore access services faster.
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