Voi referral cancer centre to begin operations February

Voi Referral Cancer Centre will begin operations in February, Taita Taveta Governor Andrew Mwadime has said.

The cancer unit wing at the hospital which is under construction at Moi County Referral Hospital will serve as a treatment and management centre for cancer cases in the region.

Mwadime, who spoke when he hosted a delegation from the Ministry of Health, said the centre is expected to be operational by mid-February.

The delegation was led by Health CS Susan Nakhumicha, her Gender counterpart Aisha Jumwa and Acting Health DG Patrick Amoth.

"We are confident this unit will be fully operational as of the 15th of next month. We are grateful to all our partners and the CS for showing big interest in assisting in the completion of this facility and making it functional," Mwadime said.

Commenting on the ongoing construction of the cancer unit wing at the hospital, Nakhumicha lauded the development of the telemedicine platform initiative.

The telemedicine initiative was launched in June 2021 to improve access to healthcare services by residents.

Through the initiative, cancer scans can now be interpreted locally through the telemedicine platform.

The initiative is a joint venture between the cancer department at the referral facility and the International Cancer Institute, one of the key partners supporting the operations of the unit.

High-resolution scans are shared with experts outside the country who in turn give their expertise on the diagnosis and treatment options.

"This platform heralds a new era in diagnosis, staging, treatment and management of cancer cases in the region,” Nakhumicha said.

The CS reiterated the government’s commitment towards improving health care at the local level, adding that the national government will provide whichever support is needed at the counties to ensure access to health for all Kenyans.

Nakhumicha reiterated support from the national administration in compliance with intergovernmental relations to foster socio-economic transformation at the grassroots in the health sector.

The CS also visited the Moi Voi Eye Unit within the facility.

The Sh80 million eye treatment and care centre funded by the Government of Germany is being fixed with state-of-the-art ophthalmology equipment to offer quality eye care services for effective control of visual impairment in the region.

“Capacity building of healthcare workers is underway. This facility will help improve healthcare services and strengthen the fight against eye-related ailments,” Governor Mwadime said.