Health Cabinet Secretary(CS) Sicily Kariuki has revealed that the Government was negotiating with drug manufacturers with a view to
lower the cost of cancer treatment.
The CS also pointed out that the Ministry was encouraging citizens to go for early screening and testing for the terminal ailment to reduce the high mortality rates associated with the disease.
“The Ministry is encouraging citizens to go for early screening as a way of reducing cancer related deaths in the country which currently stands at 33,000 annually,” she said.
Speaking after inspecting equipment and services at the Ruiru Level 4 Hospital, the CS said that the hospital was heavily congested as it
serves 100 per cent of the population in its catchment area that stretches to lower Kiambu and Juja constituencies respectively.
The CS said that plans to upgrade the Hospital into a level 5 Hospital are at an advanced stage adding that the facility will be expanded and
allocated more resources, personnel and equipment to be able to offer
quality health care in Ruiru and its environs.
Kariuki who was responding to a request by area MP Simon King’ara and Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu to have the hospital upgraded so that it can get more government funding explained that the Government is committed to ensuring that the Universal Health Care for all is
made a reality in the next 4 years adding that bringing quality Health Care close to the people is in line with the Government’s Agenda 4
targets.
King’ara had earlier pointed out that the hospital serves a population of over 600,000 people yet some of the diagnostic machines are old and
cannot serve the magnitude of patients who frequent the facility.
“Our x-ray services are overstretched, we are yet to put a mortuary, most of our patients are referred to Thika level 5 hospital for
services that can be offered locally if this facility is properly facilitated,” he said.
“The upgrading will be a big relief for residents, many of whom cannot afford to go for treatment at private hospitals,” the MP said.
Kiambu County Governor Ferdinand Waititu lauded the National Government for the disbursement of new hospital equipment valued Sh 40 million which he noted will be distributed to all medical facilities in the County.
He however regretted the serious under-staffing being experienced in all the Health facilities around the County.
By Lucy Wangai
