[PHOTOS] CS Duale tours Garissa Regional Cancer Centre

The Centre is one of the only three specialised cancer treatment hubs in Kenya.

by JENNIFER KANARI

News26 May 2025 - 12:04

In Summary

The centre serves about 40 patients daily, 10 of them being new cases.
Duale said 90 percent of the patients are covered by the Social Health Authority (SHA), whose Sh 550,000 oncology package ensures free, comprehensive treatment.

**Health CS Aden Duale engaging with specialists at the Regional Cancer Centre in Garissa County on May 25, 2025/ADEN DUALE/X.**

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale on Sunday toured Garissa Regional Cancer Centre.

The Centre is one of the only three specialised cancer treatment hubs in Kenya, alongside Mombasa and Nakuru.

"The centre is a lifeline for patients from Garissa, Wajir, Mandera, Tana River, Kitui, Isiolo, Lamu and even neighboring Somalia," Duale noted during the tour.

During the visit, he engaged the medical team to address operational challenges and enhance service delivery.

The centre serves about 40 patients daily, 10 of them being new cases.

Duale said 90 per cent of the patients are covered by the Social Health Authority (SHA), whose Sh550,000 oncology package ensures free, comprehensive treatment.

Health CS Aden Duale during a tour at the Regional Cancer Centre in Garissa County during his visit on May 25, 2025/ADEN DUALE /X.

This is due to the prevalence rate in the region remaining high, with prostate, oesophageal, and colon cancers leading in men, while breast and cervical cancers are the most common in women.

The centre was started to aid residents of the region who have for a long time travelled for long distances, some as far as India to access treatment.

Duale said the ministry is working with pharmaceutical partners to lower the cost of cancer drugs and consumables.

The CS was joined by Joan-Paula Bor from the Ministry of Health National Cancer Control Program and Garissa Deputy Governor Abdi Muhumed.

In Kenya, the health outcomes of cancer are concerning, as high mortality is attributed to cancer as the third leading cause of death.