Kericho Governor Eric Mutai Thursday did the ground-breaking for the construction of a cancer unit worth Sh 5 million at the Kericho County Referral Hospital grounds.
Dr Mutai said that the cancer unit will be equipped with health facilities worth Sh 9 million once the construction is completed in three months.
The Governor who was flanked by the Deputy Governor Fred Kirui, CEC for health services Dr Edna Tonui said that chemotherapy and other palliative health care services will be offered at the facility.
The Governor said the cancer unit will have a capacity of 20 patients at a go and will be operational soon after the construction is complete, adding that Kericho County has a team of well-trained Oncology nurses who are able to care for cancer patients.
Dr Mutai noted that families who have cancer patients strain in taking care of their loved ones and on most occasions have to call for funds drive in order to meet the treatment expenses of those who have to undergo treatment in Eldoret or Nairobi hospitals which were expensive.
The governor observed that to mitigate the problem to a certain level they decided to put up the facility able to bring services closer to the people and get early screening.
He cited throat cancer, Breast cancer, cervical cancer and Prostate cancer as the most common cases in the region.
Dr Mutai directed the contractor Lyn-Cent Ventures to deliver the facility within the period of three months so that the residents of Kericho can access treatment from the facility.
The governor assured the residents of Kericho that the County government was expecting a pathologist on transfer to Kericho who will be examining laboratory samples from patients in the County referral hospital.
Meanwhile, the Governor said that plans were underway to construct a comprehensive Chronic diseases and Oncology hospital and wing for mother and child institute in Kericho which will cost over Sh 68 million.
“The construction of the mother and child health hospital will take over one year and once commissioned it will help decongest the referral hospital, the new mother to child health unit will be a big gift to our mothers of Kericho in that it will be a cheap and affordable healthcare unit,” Mutai remarked.
By Dominic Cheres / Purity Eboyi
