By Ben Okweingoti.
The Kilifi County Government has marked a major milestone in healthcare delivery following the launch of the first cancer treatment centre in Kenya's North Coast region, a facility expected to significantly reduce the burden faced by cancer patients seeking specialized care.
For years, patients from Kilifi and neighbouring counties have been forced to travel long distances to Mombasa and Nairobi for cancer diagnosis and treatment, incurring substantial transport and accommodation costs that placed quality healthcare beyond the reach of many families.
Speaking during the official launch of the centre at the Kilifi County Referral Hospital, Governor Gideon Mung’aro described the occasion as the fulfilment of a long-held dream aimed at improving access to cancer care for residents of the coastal region.
An emotional Mung’aro said the project was the result of deliberate partnerships and agreements forged with development partners over the years.
"Today I am overwhelmed with emotion because this is a dream that has come true. When people see me signing Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), they sometimes think I am joking, but this facility is a product of the many partnerships we have established to ensure that our people have access to quality cancer treatment," he said.
The governor noted that the facility will not only serve residents of Kilifi County but will also cater for patients from Mombasa, Lamu, Tana River, Kwale and Taita Taveta counties, many of whom currently lack access to comprehensive cancer treatment services closer to home.
According to Mung’aro, the new centre is expected to reduce treatment costs, save patients valuable time and improve health outcomes through early diagnosis and timely intervention.
French Ambassador to Kenya Arnaud Suquet, who attended the launch ceremony, praised the collaboration between the Kilifi County Government, Aga Khan Hospital and the Gates Foundation, saying the partnership had been instrumental in making the project a reality.
He expressed confidence that the facility would transform healthcare services in the region and pledged continued support towards improving health outcomes for residents.
"We want to ensure that the people of Kilifi fully benefit from quality healthcare services through this facility. We will continue working together to build a healthier society," he said.
Representing the Gates Foundation, Dr. Sam Mulyanga called on residents to embrace regular cancer screening and preventive healthcare measures, emphasizing that many forms of cancer can be prevented or successfully treated when detected early.
He particularly encouraged communities to take advantage of vaccination programmes aimed at preventing cervical cancer, one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among women.
"We need to prevent cancer through vaccination and regular screening. I urge communities to turn up for vaccination programmes so that we can eliminate cervical cancer and other preventable cancers," he said.
The centre's operations will be overseen by Dr. Nashat Nur, a clinical oncologist, nuclear medicine specialist and epidemiologist. He said the facility would work closely with the National Cancer Centre to ensure adherence to best practices and the highest standards of cancer treatment and patient care.
The launch of the cancer centre is expected to enhance access to specialized healthcare services across the Coast region and strengthen the fight against cancer through improved diagnosis, treatment and prevention programmes.
