Sh34b set aside for health facilities

By MICHAEL WESONGA

The Government has set aside Sh34 billion to fund infrastructural development in hospitals, Health Cabinet Secretary James Macharia said yesterday.

 He said part of the health facilities, including cancer equipment, will be distributed countrywide in consultation with the county governments to facilitate quality and affordable healthcare. 

 He said the move that aims to furnish over 94 county hospitals in the country was a clear indication by the Government to ensure access to universal healthcare.

Jubilee manifesto

 “This will ensure that every Kenyan can eventually access affordable healthcare within a radius of 5km as envisioned in the Jubilee manifesto,” he said.

He also revealed that 25 more hospices and palliative care centres were being established in public referral hospitals.

Macharia made the remarks while marking the World Cancer Day in Eldoret.

He expressed concern over the high number of cancer patients seeking treatment outside the country annually.

“About 7,000 Kenyans seek treatment outside the country annually, a clear demonstration of the pain they are living with and financial loss they undergo in the process,” he said.

Macharia decried the shortage of cancer specialists (oncologists) in the country, observing there were only 12 of them.

“It is however disappointing to note that about 80 per cent of cancer victims are diagnosed at an advanced stage and that is why we are committed to increasing the cancer fighting infrastructure that is mostly concentrated in cities,” he said.

During yesterday’s function, Macharia presented two cryotherapy machines to the county government and another to the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital.

Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago urged men to go for prostate cancer screening, regretting that most of them seek treatment when the disease is in its advanced stages.

World Health Organisation representative to Kenya Custodia Mandhlate lauded Kenya for ratifying the WHO Framework Convention of Tobacco Control, given that tobacco was among the leading cause for cancer.