A ray of hope has shone on cancer patients in Nakuru and Eldoret as the Ministry of Health has received two LINAC Radiotherapy machines from the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale revealed this on his X account after he held bilateral talks with IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano at Afya House, Nairobi County.
‘’Through its Rays of Hope initiative, the IAEA has donated two LINAC radiotherapy machines now serving patients in Nakuru and Eldoret, with a third soon to be operational in Mombasa, cutting waiting times from six months to under one," Duale noted.
During the meeting, they reviewed key partnerships in addressing the country's growing cancer burden.
Current data shows that there are over 44,000 new cases of cancer and 28,500 deaths annually, with numbers expected to double by 2040.
Kenya's National Cancer Control Strategy 2023–2028 and the National Cancer Institute (NCI-K) are central to this fight, with strong technical backing from the IAEA
Duale urged the organisation to continue supporting the country and asked them to provide the government with two more machines for counties with ahigh cancer burden.
‘’I appealed for two more LINACs for high-burden counties and welcomed continued IAEA support in nuclear medicine, imaging, early screening and digitising cancer registries, ‘’ he said
In efforts to make cancer treatment accessible and available, Duale noted that starting April 1, 2025, cancer patients will be able to access treatment of up to Sh550,000 annually under the Universal Health Coverage.
He noted that all patients registered with the Social Health Authority (SHA) will have access to the enhanced services.
The CS noted that the amount will be partly covered by the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) and partly by the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund (ECCIF).
“We are thrilled to announce that additional funding has been allocated to enhance the benefits available for patients in need of cancer diagnosis and treatment services. Each patient will now have access to up to Sh550,000 per year, specifically designed to support their treatment journey.
“Within this framework, Sh400,000 will be available through the SHIF program, and an additional Sh150,000 will be accessible via ECCIF,” Duale said.
Duale added that this move will enable Kenyans registered under the SHA to receive the care and support they deserve.
