NAIROBI, Kenya- Nyeri County has just received a major boost in its fight against cancer thanks to a donation from Italian NGO Goal Smile.
The newly arrived endoscopy machine, valued at Ksh. 4 million, promises to revolutionize cancer diagnosis and treatment in the region.
Delivered to Nyeri County Referral Hospital on Thursday, the endoscopy machine will significantly aid in diagnosing cancers of the colon, stomach, and esophagus.
Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga hailed the arrival of the machine as a monumental step forward in combating cancer within the county.
He highlighted how this new equipment will drastically reduce the cost of diagnosis, making cancer screening and treatment more accessible to residents.
“We are excited because this machine will bring down the cost of diagnosis from Ksh. 20,000 per session in private facilities to Ksh. 2,500 per session at the County Referral Hospital,” said Kahiga.
“This will help us achieve Universal Health Coverage by ensuring our Nyeri populace receives affordable and quality healthcare,” he added.
Nyeri, along with Murang’a, Kirinyaga, and Embu counties, bears the heaviest cancer burden in Kenya, as revealed by a Ministry of Health report.
An internal study by the County Health Department in 2022 corroborated these findings, showing that cancer is the leading cause of illness and death in Nyeri.
Breast cancer tops the list among women aged 35 to 54, followed by esophageal and prostate cancers.
The county records at least 55 new cancer cases each month at the County Referral Hospital, with the chemotherapy center handling 600 cases monthly.
These staggering numbers underscore the urgent need for effective cancer diagnosis and treatment tools.
Governor Kahiga emphasized the importance of early detection in the fight against cancer and urged residents to take full advantage of the new screening machine.
