Mombasa County Health executive Hazel Koitaba (left) and Bamburi Cement
managing director Eric Kironde (right) unveil a plaque during the
opening of the Bamburi Cement Cancer Centre at the Coast Provincial
General Hospital on December 7, 2017. Photo | WACHIRA MWANGI | NMG
NSE-listed cement maker Bamburi has partnered with Mombasa County to set up a Sh18 million cancer treatment centre at the Coast General Hospital.
The
move makes it the third fully-fledged public cancer facility in Kenya
after those at the Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi and Moi
Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret.
The Bamburi
Cement Cancer Centre, which was unveiled today, is the first in the
County and is set to make it easier for patients at the coast to
conveniently access treatment.
It is also expected to help ease pressure off Kenyatta and Moi hospitals.
“The
unit will see patients access specialised equipment including
chemotherapy and will also serve as an information hub for cancer
prevention,” Bamburi MD Eric Kironde said at the centre's unveiling on
Friday.
“This being the first cancer centre in the
Coast region, it is a relief to cancer patients who initially received
referral services only in public hospitals and patients who had to seek
treatment and management services either in private hospitals, which are
generally costly, or travel to other centers across the country.”
Specialised equipment
The
new facility has been installed with specialised cancer treatment
machines including a chemotherapy hood, seven chemotherapy chairs, three
consultations rooms and a drug preparation room.
In addition, it has a treatment room, furniture and various medical fittings.
The
County Government lauded the partnership as a milestone for residents
of Mombasa as they will no longer strain to seek treatment for the
deadly illness.
“We thank Bamburi Cement for renovating
and equipping the Cancer Center as this presents a great milestone to
Mombasa County and will ensure that patients will have access to
specialised cancer treatment and management services,” Mombasa Health
executive Hazel Koitaba said.
The idea for a new cancer unit at the hospital was first incepted in 2016 by the cement maker and Mombasa County.
Construction began early this year and was completed by mid-2017.
The
devolved unit, which says it has trained specialised doctors in cancer
treatment and management abroad, will oversee its maintenance and
payment of staff.
The facility is expected to attend to at least 3 million people in the region.
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