Cancer patients to benefit from new diagnostic equipment
The immunohistochemistry analyser will be available at Kenyatta National Hospital and the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- The machine, donated by Swiss pharmaceutical firm Roche, will complement efforts to improve timely screening and treatment of cancer, especially breast cancer, in Kenya.
- Breast cancer remains the leading cancer type among Kenyan women with more than 50 per cent of the cases presenting in women below the age of 50.
Patients can now access advanced breast cancer screening and treatment through new diagnostic machines donated to the country's main referral hospitals.
This comes after the Health Ministry this week commissioned the immunohistochemistry analyser at the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH).
Immunohistochemistry analysis is a method of detecting the presence and location of proteins in tissue sections, and is useful in tracking the progress and treatment of diseases like cancer.
A similar machine will also be installed at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret.
The equipment, which was donated by Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche, will complement efforts to improve timely screening and treatment of cancer, especially breast cancer, in Kenya.
“These equipment show specific markers for breast cancer hence proper medication, which is available, is administered to patients. Besides, it shows other markers for other cancers hence making diagnosis timely and more accurate,” said Health Secretary Cleopa Mailu.
First Lady Margaret Kenyatta, who graced the event, said that breast cancer threatens the lives of many women who are the pillars of their families.
She said the partnership demonstrates that everyone must play their part to ensure that mothers, sisters and daughters have the opportunity to fight and win the war against breast cancer.
“The aim of these measures is to improve access to timely and precise diagnostic services and tailored cancer treatment to make cancer therapy much more effective,” said Ms Kenyatta.
“Many women are being diagnosed with breast cancer too late and are dying needlessly when there are treatments available that give them a chance to fight this disease.”
Breast cancer remains the leading cancer type among Kenyan women with more than 50 per cent of the cases presenting in women below the age of 50.
Over 4,500 breast cancer patients are diagnosed with the disease annually.
Two thousand breast cancer patients lose their lives to the disease every year.
Roche's head of sub-Saharan Africa, Markus Gemuend, said that with access to heathcare, women are empowrerd to build the futures they want for themselves and their families.
“This agreement ensures that breast cancer patients in Kenya will have not only improved access to care and life-changing medicines but also the overall healthcare system is stronger to support all Kenyans battling cancer,” said Gemuend.
Mr Gemuend said that Roche will also train five new oncologists and six oncology nurses, provide surgical oncology training, support the development of best practice national treatment guidelines and an increase the number of cancer treatment centers in Kenya.
“Already 20 medics have started the programme,” he said.
