Vihiga County Government has commissioned an oncology unit at the County Referral Hospital that will help in early screening and treatment of cancer and related ailments.
Speaking while presiding over the launch, Governor Dr Wilber Ottichilo, encouraged the residents to enroll with the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) so as to receive cancer treatment at a subsidized cost.
Ottichilo stated that the clinic is equipped with a chemo hood machine and chemotherapy chairs for handling chemotherapy cases. “The chemohood machine has been lying idle for six years due to lack of the oncology clinic but now it will be utilized,” he disclosed.
He added that the facility will reduce patients’ burden of visiting neighboring counties for cancer screening.
The Chief Officer (CO) for health services, Dr Mary Anyiendah, said the common cancer cases are cervical and prostate, urging the residents to go for early screening as they are curable if detected early.
Anyiendah listed some of the causes of cancer as alcohol, smoking, spicy food and genetics while the symptoms include abnormal growths, joint pains, persistent heartburns and vaginal discharges.
By Sammy Mwibanda
