Hospital to receive Sh200m cancer treatment machine

By Robert Kiplagat

Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Uasin Gishu County is set to receive a Sh200 million Cobalt Radiotherapy machine from an international company.

Acting deputy director in charge of clinical services Wilson Aruasa said the machine would arrive at the end of the year from International Atomic Radio Company in Vienna, Austria.

Aruasa said the donation would be a boost to cancer patients seeking chemotheraphy treatment.

"Patients have been travelling to Nairobi to seek treatment but once the machine arrives the services will be available here," said Aruasa.

He said the hospital had sponsored more than five doctors to take cancer management courses in different countries abroad.

"We have sent one doctor to South Africa, another one to Alexandria University in Egypt and two doctors recently arrived from the USA where they had gone to train on the same," said Aruasa.

He further said they are planning to send two or more technicians abroad to study the operations of the machine.

MTRH will become the second public hospital to acquire such machines from the same company after Kenyatta National Hospital.

He was speaking to The Standard on Saturday at Memorial Hospital Grounds during a commemoration service for children who have died of cancer.

The event was organised by the hospital in conjunction with Sally Test Pediatric Centre.

Last year, Medical Service minister Anyang Nyongo was diagnosed with prostate cancer and he had to undergo treatment in the US over lack of adequate medical services to treat cancer patients.

Nyong’o admitted the country was 20 years behind countries like South Africa and India and admitted "the technology is expensive, the knowledge takes time to acquire and the access to this form of treatment is still limited to developed countries. But it can easily be available in Kenya with a comprehensive health insurance system, institutional capacity to deliver cancer treatment and a patient care system that does not discriminate".

Renowned gospel artist Emmy Kosgei, among other choir groups, entertained the children.