NAIROBI: First Lady Margaret Kenyatta has challenged private investors in the health sector to partner with the Government to provide treatment to cancer patients.
The First Lady, who was speaking during a ground-breaking ceremony for a Sh2 billion cancer hospital at Ridgeways estate in Kiambu, said the war against cancer cannot be left to the Government alone.
She advised Kenyans to change their eating habits as they were among the factors contributing to the spread the deadly disease.
She hailed private investors who conceived the idea of the 105-bed capacity hospital, saying that once completed, it will help boost the war against cancer.
Improved care
"The cancer hospital is expected to complement the Ministry of Health's efforts to tackle the rise of cancer and other non-communicable diseases in Kenya by offering the latest diagnostic technologies and approaches for improved cancer care," she said.
Tesla Cancer Hospital, which is expected to be completed by 2017, will provide cancer diagnosis and its treatment.
It will have equipment for ultrasound, magnetic resonance, computed tomography and positron emission tomography.
The hospital will also offer expertise in radio-pharmaceutical site planning design and GMP certification support.
The partnership with General Electric will deliver a comprehensive clinical education solution including installation of Kenya's first cyclotron and the establishment of a radio-pharmacy unit at the hospital.
Speaking at the same function, Health Cabinet Secretary James Macharia said the hospital will help the Government in dealing with some of Kenya's numerous cancer.
Cardiac patients
Mr Macharia said 40,000 new cases of cancer are reported annually in the country, adding that 27,000 patients succumb to the disease every year. Further, the CS said 10,000 patients travel abroad to seek cancer treatment annually.
"With these statistics, once this cancer hospital is completed, we expect that it will help manage some of the cancer cases we are having, since we want to fight cancer in a big way," said Macharia.
Tesla Cancer Hospital Chairman Dr Daniel Githegi, said with the rapid rise of cancer and other non-communicable diseases, there is need to strengthen health services to improve standards of care.
Dr Githegi said the hospital will be the first of its kind in Kenya to provide a full range of oncology services in the private sector, adding that in the second phase, it will be expanded to cater for cardiac patients.
