Family Bank has donated one million shillings to the Makueni County Government to purchase equipment for the cancer centre at the Makueni County Referral Hospital (MCRH).
Family Bank Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Rebecca Mbithi said the money will be used to procure chemo-chairs and a special cabinet for the cancer centre.
Speaking at the governor’s office on Monday when she handed over the cheque, Ms Mbithi said the equipment will go a long way in the treatment and care of cancer patients in the county.
The CEO decried the rising number of cancer cases in the country and called for concerted efforts to fight the disease.
“When you listen to the statistics given about 75% mortality rate is due to cancer, we need to unite because it cannot be left to the national or county government only. It is a problem, for all that requires public and private sectors’ participation,” Ms Mbithi said.
She lauded the county government for its efforts in provision of efficient services to the residents particularly in the health sector.
‘‘The county government has put in the required infrastructure and recruited medical personnel and that is why we have decided to chip in through provision of the cancer equipment to improve medical care for cancer patients,’’ added Ms Mbithi.
Makueni Executive Committee Member for Health, Andrew Mulwa thanked the bank for the kind gesture and disclosed 140 patients currently being treated at the cancer centre will benefit from the equipment.
Dr Mulwa said that the county government had purchased a CT scan machine for Makindu Sub-county hospital to fight cancer, adding that the department was in the process of hiring a pathologist.
‘‘Cancer has a higher morbidity than malaria and HIV/AIDs with close to 30,000 people being diagnosed in the country annually,’’ he said.
Also present was Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana and his wife Nazi Kivutha who thanked the bank for the support.
‘‘We look forward to more support and partnership with the bank,’’ said Kivutha.
By Patrick Nyakundi/Roselyne Kavoo
